Adidas is pulling out all the stops for the upcoming World Cup with its cinematic new "Backyard Legends" campaign—and it's a must-see for soccer fans and style enthusiasts alike.
Released on Thursday, this five-minute short film stars Timothée Chalamet as he embarks on a suspenseful quest to build the ultimate street soccer squad. His mission? To take down Clive, Ruthie, and Isaak—a legendary local trio who haven't lost a match in decades.
Chalamet recruits a dream team of modern soccer stars: Jude Bellingham, Trinity Rodman, and Lamine Yamal, each bringing their own flair to the pitch. But the star power doesn't stop there. The ad is packed with cameos from icons like a 2002-era Zinedine Zidane, Alessandro Del Piero, and David Beckham, plus current talents Ousmane Dembélé, Raphinha, Pedri, Florian Wirtz, and Santiago Gimenez.
Lionel Messi—a longtime Adidas athlete and 2022 World Cup Golden Ball winner—makes a surprise appearance alongside global music sensation Bad Bunny. Speaking of Bad Bunny, this isn't his first sports rodeo: he also performed at Super Bowl 60's halftime show and recently teamed up with Adidas for a Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 merchandise line.
For the World Cup, Adidas is the official outfitter for 22 national teams, including Messi's Argentina, Italy, Mexico, Spain, and Japan. The brand has been on a roll lately: last month, it made history as the first shoe worn by an athlete who ran a sub-two-hour marathon. Earlier this spring, Adidas also dropped a denim collection honoring the 1994 U.S. men's national team and a line of pet kits so every family member can rep their favorite squad.
The World Cup kicks off on June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico—so whether you're gearing up for game day or just love a good underdog story, this ad has you covered.
Catch the full "Backyard Legends" spot below and get ready to channel your inner legend—on or off the pitch.
