Lionel Messi is undoubtedly the GOAT on the football pitch. But now he’s just fronted a new partnership with KITH… Is there anything he can’t do?
KITH has announced a new major partnership with the Argentina, Barcelona and Inter Miami legend ahead of the 2026 World Cup, unveiling an expansive collection that merges performance football wear with luxury-inspired lifestyle pieces.
The collaboration marks two milestones simultaneously: 20 years since Messi’s breakthrough onto the global football stage and 15 years of KITH. Rather than approaching the partnership as a standard athlete capsule, the collection has been positioned as a retrospective of Messi’s career and influence, spanning both on-pitch performance and off-pitch fashion.
Designed collaboratively by KITH founder Ronnie Fieg and Messi over the course of a year, the collection includes a mix of football kits, tailoring, outerwear and footwear. Throughout the range, KITH, Messi and adidas branding appears alongside commemorative graphics celebrating the anniversaries of both Messi and the New York-based label.
At the centre of the collection are a series of football jerseys inspired by defining moments in Messi’s career. Several reference his early years wearing the number 19, while others pay tribute to the iconic number 10 shirt that later became synonymous with his legacy. Matching shorts, goalkeeper kits, warm-up pieces and accessories complete the football-focused side of the release.
Away from the pitch, the collection expands into more fashion-led territory. Tailored suiting, washed denim sets, knitwear and wool tracksuits reflect KITH’s elevated design language while still maintaining strong ties to football culture and adidas’ sporting heritage.
Footwear also plays a central role in the collaboration. Among the standout releases is the return of the COPA Mundial 17 UltraBOOST, originally introduced during Kith and adidas Football’s first partnership in 2017. The silhouette returns with premium snakeskin-textured leather detailing, joined by new interpretations of the F50 and Handball Spezial, alongside a reconstructed Superstar model.
To accompany the launch, the brands have also introduced a limited run of collectible trading cards featuring Messi, with select editions personally signed by the footballer and authenticated by PSA. Fewer than 100 signed cards of each design will be randomly distributed through purchases online and in-store.
The campaign supporting the release includes a short film titled ‘The International Language of Messi’, exploring the universal recognition of Messi’s name and career through multilingual football commentary reacting to some of his most memorable goals. The film premiered during an Inter Miami CF match on May 24, where attendees were also given early access to the collection via the Kith app.
The full collection is set to release globally on May 29 through KITH stores and online platforms.
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