Lionel Messi’s World Cup boots (2006 → 2026)

Lionel Messi was part of José Pekerman’s World Cup squad in 2006 and debuted at just 19 years old in the planet’s premier national team event.

With the number 19 on his back, he entered at the 75th minute of the match against Serbia and Montenegro, and near the end of the game, he scored the sixth goal of the albiceleste’s sweeping 6-0 victory.

In that championship, the “pulga” from Rosario used the adidas +F30 Tunit boots in the “Argentina” version worn by several of the footballers sponsored by the brand in the South American squad.

For South Africa 2010, his first World Cup with the Argentina “10”, adidas decided to give him his first version different from the rest, being an F50 adizero with a special color scheme in purple, white, and yellow.

In Brazil 2014, the brand added to the F50 Adizero from the “Battle” collection, which was characterized by its black and white graphics, the light blue of the Argentine flag so that the “pulga” could differentiate himself from its other sponsored players.

For the Russia 2018 World Cup, adidas crafted a Nemeziz model with a vibrant special color and customized additions such as his logo and surname.

In Qatar 2022, adidas decided to pay tribute to his career with fully customized X Speedportal boots that were named “Leyenda” and stood out for being golden and including the Sun of May from the Argentine flag and his shirt number.

For what will possibly be his last World Cup participation in 2026, the German brand was inspired by the first one he wore in 2006 with a current version of the F50s that were called “El último tango”.

13 Goals scored:

2006 → 1 (vs Serbia and Montenegro)
2010 → 0
2014 → 4 (1 vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, 1 vs Iran and 2 vs Nigeria)
2018 → 1 (1 vs Nigeria)
2022 → 7 (1 vs Saudi Arabia, 1 vs Mexico, 1 vs Australia, 1 vs Netherlands, 1 vs Croatia and 2 vs France)
2026 → ?

World Champion in Qatar 2022

2006

2010

2014

2018

2022

2026