I’ve been glued to every World Cup match possible this Summer. I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but there’s a positive energy and unifying quality to it that I haven’t felt since maybe the last solar eclipse.
Between games, I even found myself Googling various players to learn more about them. Like, “Erling Haaland girlfriend,” or “Lionel Messi’s tattoos.”
Then, today, my son, Connor, sent me a viral photo of Lionel Messi’s pizza order in Miami, and it’s pretty bizarre.
If you’re among the minority of people who haven’t seen it yet, it’s basically pizza dough covered in dozens of tomato slices with some deliberately placed raw onions, oregano, and whole green olives. Then, there are some spices or maybe pepper in the middle. Have a look:
People’s reactions to Messi’s pizza order were quite passionate, and even angry on social media. Hmmm… Why would the world’s biggest soccer star have such a strange and oddly specific pizza order?
I stared at it for maybe 30 seconds, and then it hit me. But first, have you read the Da Vinci Code?
Basically, it’s the story of a symbologist, Robert Langdon, and a beautiful cryptologist who team up to solve a murder at the Louvre, racing from one clue hidden in famous artwork to the next.
Staring at Messi’s pizza order, I suddenly felt like Robert Langdon. Look at that pizza. Those aren’t toppings, they are hidden clues, in this case, symbols of Messi’s Catholic faith.
WTF, that’s not a pizza, it’s a Jerusalem Cross! Take a second look. Rotate that pizza about 45 degrees in your mind, and you’ll see it line up perfectly:
What is a Jerusalem Cross?
The Jerusalem Cross is a Catholic symbol of Christ’s sacrifice and the spread of the Gospel from Jerusalem to the four corners of the world.
Its large central cross and four smaller crosses (olives in onions!) are also associated with the Five Wounds of Christ: the large cross is the wound in Jesus’ side, and the smaller four crosses represent the wounds in His hands and feet. (and/or the four Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John).
OK, by now you’re saying, this is crazy, what do you know?
I know, I’m just a dad… with an expensive Art History degree that I don’t often get to use, so please allow me to continue!
Messi’s Strong Catholic Faith
It’s well known that Lionel Messi is a man of faith. Have you noticed that he makes the sign of the cross and points to heaven when he scores?
“I thank God for giving me everything. He’s given me everything” – Lional Messi
He has also been known to have Catholic priests bless his cleats before big matches.
Still not convinced? Let’s take a look at Messi’s tattoos, and look for more clues:
Oh, look, it’s Jesus wearing a crown of thorns, another symbol of crucifiction and Messi’s strong Christian faith!
He also has other Catholic tattoos featuring rosary beads, and the stained glass rose window of the Santa Maria del Pi church in Barcelona.
Where Did Messi Order the “Holy Pizza?”
Messi ordered the pizza from Banchero Miami, which traces its roots back to 1932 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was founded by Don Agustín Banchero who brought his pizza-making skills from Genoa, Italy.(A deeply Catholic city!)
Now, I don’t know where the religious symbolism in this pizza started, exactly, but I think this order is custom-made for Messi, as I don’t see it on the menu!
Does My DaVinci Code End Here?
I could keep analyzing Lionel Messi’s pizza all day, but I have to move on, as I have work to do. All of this could just be a little coldbrew coffee-fueled madness, right?… or is it?
Is Messi’s pizza order just a weird, Argentinian tradition, or is it a hidden clue to something much bigger? I have to go buy a one-way ticket to Buenes Aires so that I can have a closer look at the stained glass windows of the church of Santa Maria del Pi!
Let me know what you think!