Soccer superstar Lionel Messi is heading somewhere fans have never seen him before: an animated fantasy world filled with giants, magical powers and high-stakes soccer battles. Disney has just released the first teaser for Messi and the Giants, giving families their first substantial look at the new series.
The animated sports-fantasy show will premiere globally on Disney+ in summer 2027, with Disney Channel also set to air the series in the U.S. The teaser debuted at San Diego Comic-Con Málaga before an audience of more than 3,000 fans.
The series has been in development for several years, having originally been announced as a Messi-inspired animated project in 2024. Now, with the first footage finally available, parents and young soccer fans have a much better idea of what Disney has in store.
Meet Leo and the Giants
Rather than following Messi’s real-life career, the series introduces Leo, a 12-year-old boy who becomes trapped in an alternate reality ruled by giants. Getting home won’t be easy: Leo must compete in soccer-like battles, defeat legendary giants and help restore the fractured realms of Iko.
There’s an interesting twist that makes Leo an underdog. While other players can use the world’s special powers to enhance their abilities, Leo can’t—and instead has to depend on his soccer skills, teamwork and determination.
Argentinian actor Milo Burgess-Webb provides Leo’s voice, while the teaser also introduces the show’s original theme song, “Vamos, Vamos, Vamos,” performed by Argentinian singer Luck Ra. Disney describes the series as an adventure about “courage, perseverance and believing in yourself.”
Just How Involved Is Lionel Messi?
Messi isn’t simply lending his name to the project. He serves as an executive producer, while Atlantis Animation handles the animation.
His involvement also goes back to the show’s original development. When the series was announced, Messi said he wanted to create something that could share the values sports had taught him with younger generations.
“I always dreamed of being involved in a project that would share the values of sports,” Messi said at the time. He specifically pointed to teamwork, perseverance, discipline and hard work as lessons he hoped the series would share with kids.
For parents, that makes Messi and the Giants more than a soccer-themed cartoon: It’s a fantasy adventure built around some very familiar lessons about working together, overcoming obstacles and believing in yourself.
