Lionel Messi has maintained a near-constant relationship with adidas throughout his career. The Argentine has been associated with the Three Stripes since his teenage years and has launched a variety of exclusive boots with the brand. His different adidas releases have commemorated everything from winning the Ballon d’Or to the birth of his children.
However, it was not always like this.
During his initial steps in professional football, Messi sported the Nike Swoosh. Even as a teenager, the hype surrounding him was evident, which led to a court case and eventually his move to adidas.
More than 15 years later, he has committed to a lifetime deal with the brand.
From his Nike roots to his own adidas line, this is how Messi’s boots have evolved throughout the course of his career…
When Messi burst onto the scene as a prodigious teenager, he sported one of Nike’s most renowned boots of all time. In some matches during his debut season with Barcelona, which concluded with Argentina winning their fifth U20 World Cup title in 2005, Messi donned the classic black and white Nike Tiempo. For some of his exceptional early performances, Messi transitioned to Nike’s Total 90 line, emulating the footsteps of his teammate and role model Ronaldinho.
-GettyF30 TUNiT
In 2006, adidas outbid Nike and secured a long-term endorsement deal with Messi. During that year, he favored the F30 model over adidas’ top-of-the-line F50 line. Among Messi’s early adidas boots was the F30 TUNiT, which he wore during a breakout season that included his first Champions League winner’s medal and his first World Cup.
-GettyF50i
The F50i became an instant classic due to a memorable moment during the 2009 Champions League final. Messi, wearing Barcelona’s half-and-half kit, scored a header from a Xavi cross, and as he landed, his right foot lost its bright blue F50i boot. Without stopping to put it back on, Messi celebrated by holding it aloft and kissing it as he ran towards the waiting cameras.
As the decade turned in the 2010s, Messi made the switch to wearing the F50 adizero. He maintained a long-lasting relationship with the boots and wore them during some of the most significant events in his career, all of which were commemorated with special edition pairs. The year 2012 was particularly noteworthy, with special pairs commemorating his 90-goal record, three Ballon d’Or wins, and the birth of his son Thiago. Adidas continued to create special designs, with one highlight being a birthday pair as Messi turned 27 during the 2014 World Cup.
