Soccer legend Lionel Messi, music superstar Bad Bunny and Oscar-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet are among the luminaries who team up in a new Adidas ad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup that starts in June in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
In the “Backyard Legends” short film, Chalamet plays the leading role as he organizes a team of three to take on a local three — Clive, Ruthie and Isaak — who have become something of neighborhood (and world soccer) lore.
“Through Chalamet’s eyes, audiences are introduced to a local crew who encapsulate the freedom of playing football and have ruled their pitch for decades,” an Adidas news release said.
As Chalamet recounts the story, youngsters Clive, Ruthie and Isaak even defeated in 2002 a three made up of top pro players: Zinedine Zidane, one of France’s greatest and part of the French team that won 1998’s World Cup, David Beckham and Italy legend Alessandro Del Piero. The images of Beckham and Zidane in the ad make them look as they did years ago, including versions of Beckham with hair styles past (buzzcut, blonde, mohawk, per the ad).
The piece opens with Chalamet on the phone.
“Hey! Listen to me. What do I know about soccer? Nothing. I know about football, Benito, football,” he says during the call, adding: “Listen, bro, I have a team, they’re legit. OK? We’re on the way, we’re in the car, right now.”
At one point, Chalamet says: “Tell Leo, this whole thing ends today.”
Joining Chalamet in the car are his team: Lamine Yamal, a current 18-year-old Spanish national team phenom and FC Barcelona star who could play a major 2026 World Cup role, as well as Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham, who plays for England’s national team, and Trinity Rodman, who plays for the National Women’s Soccer League’s Washington Spirit.
The three are set to face Clive, Ruthie and Isaak, who haven’t lost a match since 1996.
“I may have told arguably the greatest player on the planet that I could end this,” Chalamet tells the stars in his car, referring to Leo Messi.
When Chalamet and his stars arrive at the court where the three-vs.-threes happen, a crowd has gathered and Chalamet approaches Bad Bunny — a.k.a. Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio.
Chalamet asks Bad Bunny: “So did I deliver or did I deliver?”
Bad Bunny turns to Argentinian soccer star Messi and asks him in Spanish what he thinks.
“Pretty good,” Messi says in Spanish.
Messi asks Chalamet if he thinks they can win.
“Probably not,” Chalamet says.
“If they can’t, I’ll play,” Messi says.
Chalamet tell Messi he was his backup plan.
Adidas outfits 22 teams for Men’s World Cup
For the World Cup, Adidas is official outfitter of 22 of the 48 national teams, including Messi’s Argentina, Yamal’s Spain, Italy, Mexico, and Japan, USA TODAY reported.
Other soccer stars in the ad are Ousmane Dembélé — who plays for the formidable current French national team and the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner as world’s best player — Raphinha, Pedri, Florian Wirtz, and Santiago Gimenez.
“Set against a nostalgic soundtrack, 90s street and terrace style, analogue tech and era-defining hairstyles, the film blends cutting edge CGI and visual effects to bring to life a simple truth: the backyard is where pressure disappears and legends begin,” the release said. “Because whether it’s a cage pitch, a parking lot, a patch of grass or the World Cup stage, the game belongs to those who play free.”
Contributing: USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Messi, Bad Bunny, Timothée Chalamet take on ‘Backyard Legends’ in ad
Reporting by Michael P. McKinney, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
