How Adidas tapped into motorcycle culture to create Messi’s retro iridescent World Cup cleat

On June 22, Lionel Messi became the all-time leading goal scorer in the World Cup, 20 years after his first time in the tournament in 2006. A lot has changed for Messi in those two decades, but his most avid fans might have noticed that one thing stayed more or less the same: his footwear. When Messi first stepped onto the World Cup pitch at the age of 18, he was wearing a pair of Adidas F50.6 TUNi T cleats. And while setting his goalscoring record, he was wearing a custom pair of cleats—called the Adidas F50 El Ultimo Tango—designed to mimic the silhouette of that original pair. The shoes, which were revealed on June 5 and cost $280 on Adidas’ website, are sold out in nearly every size. Following Monday’s game, they’re now reselling on eBay for $800 or more. To design the F50 El Ultimo Tango, Adidas took the original F50.6 TUNiT, tuned up its exterior, and reimagined its construction with the brand’s most modern tech. It was a two year process, including plenty of input from Messi himself, to create a boot fit for what’s likely his last World Cup. Lionel Messi scores his record-breaking goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Austria at Dallas Stadium on June 22, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. [Photo: Stacy Revere/Getty Images] Messi takes a look through the cleat archives When the F50.6 TUNiT was first released in late 2005, it was a major moment for Adidas’ sports innovation. The shoe’s main distinguishing feature was its customizability. It came with a variety of different uppers in a range of materials, as well as “soft ground,” “firm ground,” and “hard ground” studs, allowing players to adjust the boot to fit their own needs and playing conditions. For the 2006 World Cup, Adidas released a series of limited-edition uppers designed for the various nations in the tournament, including one for Argentina with blue and yellow stripes and a metallic winged look, which Messi wore on the field. Messi during the World Cup 2006 round of 1