As Argentina prepares to defend its FIFA World Cup title, adidas is bringing football and golf together with the launch of its first-ever Lionel Messi-inspired golf shoe.
Dubbed the “CODECHAOS Messi”, the limited-edition footwear pays tribute to the Argentine football icon and draws inspiration from Messi’s ‘El Último Tango’ F50.6 TUNIT football boot. The shoe will be available from 17 June via adidas’ online channels and selected retailers, while stocks last.
According to Chen Rui Yuan, country manager of adidas Singapore, the launch was designed to tap into the growing convergence between sports audiences at a time when the FIFA World Cup 2026 is commanding global attention.
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“Today’s sports consumers do not exist in a single category,” said Chen. “We saw an opportunity to bring the excitement of one of the world’s biggest sporting stages into a sport that shares many of the same values of precision, focus and a love of the game.”
Blending football aesthetics with golf performance, the CODECHAOS Messi features an Argentina-inspired ivory, gold and sky-blue colourway, alongside Messi branding on the tongue and sock liner.
While the design references one of Messi’s most recognisable boots, adidas said the footwear has been engineered specifically for the golf course. The shoe incorporates a microfiber leather upper, a new AXISLOCK stabiliser in the heel and midfoot for added support, and the brand’s TWISTGRIP traction system to enhance grip and stability throughout a golfer’s swing. It also features full-length BOOST cushioning designed to provide comfort and energy return during play.
Chen added that Messi’s influence extends beyond football, making him a natural choice to introduce new audiences to adidas Golf. Having partnered with adidas since 2006, the football icon’s appeal spans sport, culture and markets, he said.
“His status transcends sport, and as a cultural figure whose appeal reaches audiences far beyond the football community, he is the right partner to introduce new audiences to adidas Golf.”
Beyond the athlete partnership, Chen described the shoe as a genuine collaboration between adidas Golf and adidas Football, combining the performance technology of the CODECHAOS platform with the aesthetic language of Messi’s iconic football boot.
To support the launch, adidas produced campaign imagery at Silvies Valley Ranch in Eastern Oregon, featuring the property’s well-known goat caddies. Part of the ranch’s sustainable farming programme, the trained goats assist golfers across two of its courses, adding a playful element to the campaign.
While football and golf have traditionally attracted different audiences, Chen said the launch reflects adidas’ belief that athletes and products can transcend their home categories.
“Whether you are a golfer who has followed Messi’s career for two decades or a football fan who has never set foot on a course, this shoe is an invitation to engage with adidas Golf or adidas Football in a way that feels relevant and exciting right now,” he said.
The launch also coincides with Argentina’s FIFA World Cup 2026 title defence and Messi’s sixth appearance at the tournament, making him the first men’s player to reach the milestone.
According to Chen, the timing was deliberate, with the tournament creating a moment when global attention converges around the sport and the athletes who define it. He added that the launch also reflects adidas Golf’s broader ambition to reach consumers beyond its traditional audience by connecting the category to one of the world’s most-watched sporting events.
“Messi sits at the very centre of that. These are the reasons the collaboration exists and why it is significant,” he said.
The launch comes as adidas continue to tap football’s cultural influence beyond the pitch, particularly as anticipation builds around the FIFA World Cup 2026. Last month, the brand unveiled its latest football campaign, “Backyard legends“, featuring a cast of current stars and football icons including Lionel Messi, David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Bad Bunny.
The campaign is part of the brand’s broader push to connect football culture with entertainment and lifestyle audiences ahead of this summer’s global tournament.
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