Adidas introduces Backyard Legendsa five-minute film about the 2026 football tournament. The campaign brings Timothée Chalamet together with Lionel Messi, Bad Bunny, Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham, Trinity Rodman, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckhamand Alessandro Del Piero in a story about neighborhood football, free play and the brand You got this message.
SNEAKERS
The film follows Chalamet as he learns about Clive, Ruthie and Isaak, a local crew with a “win or go home” streak that has lasted for generations. Their reputation has grown through backyard lore, with previous challengers including 90s names like Zidane, Beckham and Del Piero. Chalamet sets out to build a team strong enough to take on them, turning a local pitch story into a bigger football fantasy.
Chalamet brings a personal connection to the project. In the campaign notes, he recalls playing at Pier 40 as a child and thinking about Beckham’s free-kicks, Del Piero’s goals and Zidane’s volleys while trying out his own versions. He describes his love of the game and his excitement at joining adidas for a film alongside some of football’s biggest names.
Backyard Legends also features a cameo from the Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, Raphinha, Pedri, Florian Wirtzand Santiago Jimenez. Each cameo adds to the story surrounding Clive, Ruthie and Isaak, creating the sense that their local scene has amassed its own mythology over decades of challengers.
The visual language draws on 90s street and patio style, analog technology, period hairstyles and a nostalgic soundtrack. adidas also uses CGI and visual effects to transform the backyard setting into a larger-scale football story. The film returns to a simple idea: the pressure drops when players approach the game through freedom, play and faith.
Florian Alt, VP of Global Brand Communications at adidas, frames Backyard Legends around the feeling of playing for joy, without pressure and without expectations. It connects this concept with You Got This, adidas’ message to athletes and fans ahead of a big sporting summer. The campaign places confidence and play alongside competition, aiming to encourage professionals and grassroots players to bring freedom to every pitch.
adidas also enters the 2026 tournament through its long-standing role in football. The brand supplies the Official Match Ball and kits for 14 confederations competing next summer. With Backyard Legends, adidas connects this big stage with the places where football often starts: a caged field, a parking lot, a patch of grass or a game in the yard with friends.
