Why 'Messi to Real Madrid' is trending on transfer deadline day

Suraj Radia

• 1 Feb 2024 10:09 CST
• 3 min read

Football fans may have been shocked to see ‘Lionel Messi to Real Madrid’ being a trending topic on social media on deadline day but the phrase was trending for a very appropriate reason.

While the transfer window may be proving less eventful than anticipated, one of the biggest sports stories in recent times broke in Formula 1 on deadline day, with Lewis Hamilton agreeing to race for Ferrari for the 2025 season.

The news being such a huge story left some football fans puzzled and questioning the context, with many posts on Twitter asking to explain the move in football terms.

And the overwhelming consensus was a comparison of Messi moving from Barcelona to Real Madrid, proving just how stunning the news coming out of F1 truly was.

Hamilton currently drives for Mercedes and is contracted to the German manufacturers until after the 2025 season, however the 39-year-old is said to be on the brink of making a sensational switch to the iconic red of Ferrari.

The British driver won six World Championships in seven years with Mercedes, although he has not won a race since 2021 with Red Bull and Max Verstappen dominating the recent season.

Hamilton to Ferrari: The football world reacts

Along with ‘Messi to Real Madrid’, there were posts comparing Hamilton’s move to Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Barcelona, or even Luis Figo’s real life switch between the two sides in 2000.

— Bruno Fernandes enjoyer (@Nadal_istheGOAT) February 1, 2024

Some Premier League comparisons were also made in regards to Ferrari’s barren run of titles, having failed to win a championship since 2007, leading some fans to suggest it would be like Mohamed Salah joining Manchester United.

Ferrari, who are arguably the most iconic F1 outfit due to the legacy of Michael Schumacher, have struggled with their engines in recent times and are keen to make huge changes, hence the impending move for Hamilton.