Argentine footballer Lionel Messi is looking to score his next goal in the kids TV arena.

Sony Music Entertainment (SME) has partnered with the iconic athlete to develop an as-yet-untitled animated series that will feature Messi as a young boy traveling through a video game and contending with escalating levels of obstacles and challenges. The overarching goal of the show is to impart sportsmanship lessons to kids and tweens.

Messi is the all-time leading goal-scorer for his country, and one of the most popular footballers of all time. He recently led Argentina to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup in December. 

This is the first animated kids project for SME’s premium content division, which will oversee development and distribution. Up until now, SME has primarily focused on concert films and music documentaries such as 2022’s a-ha: True North and George Michael: Freedom Uncut.

SME is working on the series with Leo Messi Management SL, which manages the image rights to Messi and other pro players. Their plan is to tap into the international appeal of football by launching in multiple languages (including English and Spanish) out of the gate. The show will also feature original music from SME’s broad roster of artists and composers.

Image courtesy: Дмитрий Садовников via Wikimedia Commons