adidas is kicking off the road to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ with Backyard Legends, a new short film that turns neighborhood football mythology into a global story about playing free. Led by Timothée Chalamet, the campaign brings together Lionel Messi, Bad Bunny, Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham, and Trinity Rodman in a nostalgia-soaked tribute to the pitches where legends are made.
The five-minute film follows Chalamet as he assembles a squad to challenge Clive, Ruthie, and Isaak, an undefeated local crew whose “win or go home” streak has survived generations of challengers, including 90s icons Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, and Alessandro Del Piero. Cameos from Ousmane Dembélé, Raphinha, Pedri, Florian Wirtz, and Santiago Gimenez add to the growing lore.
Set against a backdrop of terrace style fits, analogue tech, vintage hairstyles, and a nostalgic soundtrack, Backyard Legends blends retro football culture with modern visual effects while pushing adidas’ “You Got This” message front and centre. The idea is simple. Whether it is a backyard, parking lot, cage court, or the World Cup stage, the game belongs to those who play without pressure.
“I used to dream of playing with these guys,” said Chalamet. “I love this game, so it’s unbelievable to be doing this with adidas, captured with the best to ever do it.”
Ahead of a huge summer for football, adidas is set to play a major role at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ as Official Match Ball provider and kit supplier to 14 federations. Backyard Legends feels like the first whistle before the main event.