“Gracias, Leo”: Adidas Bids a Touching Farewell to 39-Year-Old Lionel Messi at the 2026 World Cup Final

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup drew to a close, Adidas unveiled one of the most emotional videos of the tournament. The brand released a special tribute dedicated to the storied career of 39-year-old Lionel Messi, reports WWD.

Exactly 20 years after his World Cup debut in 2006, the Argentine captain stepped onto the pitch for what is almost certainly the sixth and final World Cup of his career. To mark this historic milestone, Adidas brought together all six pairs of boots Messi has worn across his World Cup appearances, including the limited-edition F50 “El Último Tango,” created specifically for the 2026 tournament.

The short video concludes with two simple words: “Gracias, Leo” (“Thank you, Leo”).

Argentina fell to Spain 0–1 in the final, and it remains unknown whether this match was truly Messi's last appearance in his national team jersey.

“The Last Dance”: What We Know About Messi’s Boots

In June, Adidas officially introduced the exclusive “El Último Tango” (“The Last Tango” or “The Last Dance”) collection, created to celebrate Lionel's final chapter on the global stage.

Inspired by the iconic 2006 F50.6 Tunit model, the new boots feature an iridescent blue-and-white colorway, nodding to the colors of the Argentine flag.

The outsole bears the inscription “El Último Tango,” while the side panels feature the names and birth dates of Leo’s three sons—Ciro, Thiago, and Mateo. The left heel displays the Argentine flag, while the right features his legendary number 10.

To complement the boots, the brand launched a commemorative t-shirt collection blending design elements from all six Argentina kits Messi wore across his World Cup campaigns.

A Cinematic Finale from Adidas

Just ahead of the final, the German sportswear giant also launched a massive promotional campaign titled “La Final.” The video starred both Argentine veterans and icons (Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, and Julián Álvarez) alongside Spain’s young generation, including Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, Pedri, and Dani Olmo.

This campaign served as a natural sequel to Adidas’s blockbuster May release, “Backyard Legends,” in which Messi joined Timothée Chalamet, Bad Bunny, and David Beckham for a simple 3-on-3 street match, reminding the world of the pure love of the game without pressure or expectations.