MAM
Infectious Advertising appoints Neville Suraliwala as business head
Mumbai: Infectious Advertising, one of independent creative hot-shops has appointed Neville Suraliwala as business head.
With over 15 years of experience and working across reputed agencies such as FCB Ulka, Lowe Lintas, Soho Square (Now 82.5), L&K Saatchi and Saatchi and Makani Creatives. Neville has worked with renowned brands like Indian Oil, Fair & Lovely, Clinic Plus, Head & Shoulders, Piaggio, Bisleri, Franklin Templeton, Yes Bank, Nilkamal, Lee Cooper, Tata Real Estate, and several other respected names.
Speaking about joining Infectious Advertising, Neville Suraliwala said, ‘I am thrilled to bring my expertise and passion for effective communications to the vibrant and dynamic environment of the Infectious Advertising family. Here, creativity is the solution to every marketing challenge, and I am excited to contribute to this ethos of innovative thinking and collaboration. I genuinely look forward to this new chapter filled with creative opportunities and impactful collaborations that help us achieve bigger milestones and attain mutual success.’
Infectious Advertising’ chief operating officer Siddhartha Singh commented, “Absolutely delighted to have Neville on board the Infectious family, the few meetings we had with him give us the confidence that his skills and expertise shall contribute significantly to our growing ambition of being an agency that produces work that is contemporary and effective – work that pushes the envelope of ‘virality’. Wish Neville the very best and look forward to working with him closely.”
Over the last year, Infectious Advertising has made significant additions like Ashish Naik as ECD, Shabbir Motiwala as head of production, Ankit Gandhi as business head and Vinayak Kohli as creative director. Neville’s appointment is yet another move for the agency in strengthening the senior leadership team.
MAM
Lego brings Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappé, Vinicius together
Campaign clocks 314 million views ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 buzz.
MUMBAI: Four legends, one frame and not a single tackle in sight. Lego has pulled off a crossover few thought possible, uniting Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior in a single campaign ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 only this time, they’re building dreams brick by brick.
Titled “Everyone wants a piece”, the campaign features the quartet assembling a Lego version of the World Cup trophy, before placing miniature versions of themselves atop it, a playful nod to football’s ultimate prize. Shared widely across social media, the ad carries a pointed disclaimer: it is not AI-generated, a subtle but telling signal in an era where even reality is often questioned.
The numbers tell their own story. The campaign has already crossed 314 million views on Instagram across the players’ accounts, with fans hailing it as a rare, almost nostalgic moment particularly for the reunion of Messi and Ronaldo, whose last shared campaign ahead of the 2022 World Cup became one of the platform’s most-liked posts.
Beyond the film, Lego is extending the play with exclusive, player-themed sets tied to each of the four stars, part of a broader football-led programme designed to ride the global momentum building towards 2026. The idea, as echoed by the players themselves, leans into the parallels between football and play experimentation, creativity, failure, and triumph.
Messi described the sets as a way to bring on-pitch moments into an imaginative, hands-on world, while Ronaldo called the transformation into a Lego figure a rare honour, blending sport with storytelling. Vinícius, meanwhile, struck a more personal note, recalling childhood moments of building with Lego and framing creativity as a universal language that transcends borders.
The timing is no accident. With the 2026 World Cup set to run from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico, and featuring an expanded 48-team format, global anticipation is already building. Argentina, led by Messi, will enter as defending champions, adding another layer of intrigue.
For Lego, the campaign does more than celebrate football, it taps into its mythology. Because when icons become figurines and rivalries turn into play, the beautiful game finds a new kind of pitch. one built, quite literally, by hand.
