Rodrigo Messi, brother of world-famous Argentinian football legend Lionel Messi, delivered a speech during the WCIT 2024/DigiTec conference in Yerevan. Messi, who serves as the CEO of Lionel Messi Management and a special advisor at Play Time Ventures, expressed his admiration for Armenia’s strides in technological development.
Rodrigo Messi, also referred to as “the man behind the legend,” manages the business and social projects of his brother, Lionel Messi. During the WCIT 2024/DigiTec opening session, Rodrigo delivered a brief 2-minute welcoming remark, highlighting the future of AI in sports.
In his main speech, Rodrigo Messi praised Armenia’s advancements in the tech sector, acknowledging the country’s efforts and potential. “I thank Armenia and the Armenian people for the warm welcome. I see how Armenia continues to advance in the field of technology,” he said during the event. He also added, “The development of Armenia in terms of technology would be continuous,” expressing his satisfaction with both the conference and his visit to Yerevan.
Following his speech, Rodrigo Messi and his team are expected to meet with Armenia’s Minister of High-Tech Industry, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, to discuss future cooperation and opportunities.
Rodrigo Messi holds key roles as CEO of Lionel Messi Management and special advisor at Play Time Ventures, a company that focuses on investments in sports, media, and technology. Founded by Lionel Messi in 2022, Play Time Sports-Tech HoldCo LLC, based in San Francisco, serves as Messi’s main investment vehicle. This entity, managed by Armenian-American entrepreneur Razmig Hovaghimian, a partner at Graph Ventures, looks to expand its influence globally through strategic investments.
Hovaghimian, who also participated in the WCIT 2024/DigiTec panel discussion, conveyed greetings from Elon Musk to the conference participants, further emphasizing the international scope and significance of the event.
