Ahead of what could be his last FIFA World Cup, Kith and Adidas team up for a collection that celebrates Lionel Messi’s legacy.
Almost four years after completing football’s ultimate achievement by winning the World Cup, Lionel Messi is heading back for another run with Argentina. As the “little boy from Rosario” prepares for what could be his final World Cup appearance this summer, Kith and Adidas have launched a tribute collection honoring one of the greatest athletes to ever play the game.
Kith has become one of the strongest brands at crossing over into sports culture. Through carefully curated collaborations with teams and athletes, its collections consistently deliver. From elite athletes to hometown teams, Kith’s execution stands out because it does more than create apparel as it strengthens connections and pays homage to the roots of the sport. This collaboration with Adidas and Messi is no different.
The International Language of Messi
Ahead of the collection’s release, Kith unveiled a teaser titled The International Language of Messi. The short video shows Messi sitting in a dressing room while commentary calls of some of his greatest goals play in different languages, accompanied by corresponding subtitles. The final commentary is in English, ending with the line, “It’s Lionel Messi, the best player in the world.” It is a simple but effective way of building anticipation for the collection.
The teaser also provided a closer look at several pieces from the collection. Messi wears a reimagined version of Argentina’s 2006 World Cup kit featuring his iconic No. 19 before he inherited the No. 10 shirt. He pairs it with white socks featuring Kith branding and a new pair of football boots. Several jackets teased throughout the rollout can also be seen hanging in the background.
The Iconic 2006 World Cup Kit
One of the centerpiece items in the collection is a modern remake of Argentina’s iconic 2006 World Cup home jersey. Messi wore No. 19 during that tournament as he made his first appearance on football’s biggest stage.
Kith reimagined the jersey with a modern twist. The crest features a redesigned logo incorporating the number 15 in celebration of the brand’s 15th anniversary.
Limited Signed Trading Cards
Beyond apparel and footwear, Kith also included signed trading cards as part of the collection. The brand partnered with PSA, with the cards arriving in graded slabs. The cards will be included as a gift with purchase for all four jerseys and every footwear style.
Two variations are available. The first recreates the iconic Bill Russell championship portrait, replacing the NBA legend with Messi and his collection of trophies. The second features a graphic of a young Messi lifting the World Cup trophy alongside illustrations of his future selves celebrating the achievement.
Wide Range of Apparel
As seen throughout the rollout, the collection features a wide variety of apparel pieces ranging from retro football kits to premium outerwear. Kith x Messi branding appears across Argentina and Inter Miami-inspired kits, jackets, tracksuits, shirts, football accessories, and even a football all stamped with Kith’s KXVH anniversary branding.
The collection pays tribute to different eras of Messi’s career, from his early days wearing No. 19 to his legendary run as Argentina’s No. 10.
Six Collab Shoes
To complete the collection, Kith and Adidas introduced six footwear silhouettes featuring co-branded Kith x Messi detailing, one for each of Messi’s six World Cup appearances from 2006 to 2026.
The lineup includes the timeless Superstar, two versions of the Handball Spezial, the adidas F50 Megaride, the Copa 17 Ultraboost, and the adidas F50 Inframe football boot. One Handball Spezial arrives in pink as a nod to Messi’s current club, Inter Miami, while the other comes in a collegiate royal colorway.
Banner Images from Kith on Instagram.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Kith x Adidas x Messi collection is a tribute capsule released ahead of Lionel Messi’s sixth World Cup appearance. It includes reimagined Argentina kits, six Adidas footwear silhouettes, co-branded tracksuits and jackets, and PSA-graded signed trading cards.
The collection features six footwear silhouettes corresponding to each of Messi’s World Cup appearances: the Adidas Superstar, two Handball Spezial colorways, the F50 Megaride, the Copa 17 Ultraboost, and the F50 Inframe football boot.
Kith reimagined Argentina’s 2006 World Cup home jersey, the kit Messi wore as No. 19 during his first World Cup. The reissued version incorporates updated crest detailing that marks Kith’s 15th anniversary.
Two PSA-graded signed trading card variants are included as gifts with purchase on all four jerseys and every footwear style — one recreating the Bill Russell championship portrait with Messi, and one depicting a young Messi lifting the World Cup trophy.
The collection was released ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which could be Messi’s final appearance at the tournament. It covers all six of his World Cup campaigns from 2006 to 2026, using each to anchor one of the six footwear silhouettes in the collaboration.
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