Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero join padel! Esports team backed by Argentine legends follow Andy Murray, Robert Lewandowski and Rafael Nadal into Hexagon Cup

After the success of its first edition, the Hexagon Cup – a revolutionary padel tournament backed by high-profile sports heroes including Rafael Nadal, Robert Lewandowski and Andy Murray – will return with a star-studded addition. Padel is a racket sport booming in global popularity, with an estimated 25million active players worldwide. Since securing the backing of DMG Ventures, the inaugural Hexagon Cup successfully lured the very best international padel players to compete in six teams. The second edition, set to take place between January 29 and February 2 2025, will include a seventh team consisting of the number four ranked Federico Chingotto and 13th-seed Claudia Jensen of Kru Padel by Taktika. The outfit bidding to shake things up at the next tournament at the Madrid Arena are a sports division of the Kru Esports, which is owned by Lionel Messi and his former Argentina team-mate Sergio Aguero. ‘Hexagon is a platform that is taking this sport to another level, and we’re here to compete and give our best. The names joining our team, including two outstanding Argentinians, speak for themselves: talented players who make us proud, and we are pleased to support their professional development.

‘This project is a new way of bringing Kru’s values to a wider audience, and we’re highly motivated by this challenge. We are confident that Kru Padel will rise to the occasion.’

Aguero launched KRU Esports in 2020, playing the likes of FIFA, Rocket League, League of Legends and Valorant competitively with impressive results. Messi was obviously impressed with what he saw and was convinced to join Aguero as a co-owner in 2023.

Partners for Chingotto and Jensen, as well as a Next Gen roster will be selected in a draft taking place next month or in the beginning of November.

Launched with the strapline, ‘For the fans, for the players, for the game’, the Hexagon Cup has eagerly placed spectators at the forefront of their planning, with live music, entertainers and padel experiences accompanying the sporting action.