News Desk
LIVERPOOL, England — Hugo Ekitike wasted no time making headlines. The French striker scored the fastest goal of the 2025-26 Premier League season at Anfield, striking within seconds of kick-off against Brighton and sending Liverpool fans into early celebration.
As the stadium erupted, Anfield’s LED boards lit up with the Visit Maldives logo — a reminder of the club’s new global partnership with the Maldives’ tourism board. The branding, displayed in 10 languages, is part of a campaign to showcase the Maldives as a premier destination for luxury and sustainable travel.
The collaboration gives the Maldives visibility across Liverpool’s home matches and digital platforms, tapping into the club’s vast global audience. For the Maldives, the tie‑up is more than marketing: it positions the country at the heart of one of the world’s most watched sporting leagues, reinforcing its image as a world‑class destination.
For Liverpool, Ekitike’s lightning strike was a record. For the Maldives, it was a moment of global spotlight — football and tourism intersecting on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
The Maldives has been crowned World’s Leading Destination 2025 for the sixth consecutive year at the World Travel Awards and also won Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination 2025 and Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Destination 2025.
The Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), the national tourism board, continues to position the Maldives as one of the world’s premier travel destinations. Known globally for its pristine beaches, turquoise lagoons, and luxury resorts, the Maldives has also become a leader in sustainable tourism, highlighting eco‑friendly initiatives and marine conservation.
