Lionel Messi wears the adidas F50, the speed boot adidas built its lightest, lowest line around, and the boot family he has worn in one form or another since the F50 adizero of 2010. What sets Messi apart is that his version is not the boot everyone else buys. adidas builds the Messi F50 with a softer upper and a wider, more forgiving fit than the standard model, shaped around how he likes a boot to sit on a low, quick, left-footed game.
For the 2026 World Cup he has his most meaningful signature in years: El Ultimo Tango, a pair that points all the way back to the boots he wore at his first World Cup in 2006. This page covers what he wears now, why the Messi F50 fits differently, and every signature pair on the way here.
Current boot
adidas F50, Messi signature build
World Cup 2026 boot
adidas F50 Messi “El Ultimo Tango”
Silo
adidas speed boot, low and light, left-foot game
Fit note
Softer HybridTouch upper, friendlier to wide feet than the standard F50
Messi’s F50 is built differently to the one on the shelf. Here is the current pair.
Check the latest Messi F50 ↗World Cup 2026
Messi’s 2026 World Cup Boots
The 2026 World Cup is widely expected to be Messi’s last, and adidas has named his boot for the occasion. El Ultimo Tango, the last dance, points all the way back to where his World Cup story started in 2006, wrapped around the modern F50 he plays in now.
F50 Messi “El Ultimo Tango”
2026 World Cup signature
An ivory base with sky blue and gold, the Argentina colours, and the claw-like three stripes that nod to the old F50 TUNiT era. Built as a tribute to the boots he wore at his first World Cup in 2006, on the modern F50 soleplate.
See El Ultimo Tango ↗
F50 Messi “Hora Dorada”
2026 signature · league football
The golden hour pair from earlier in 2026, a warmer tangerine and gold colourway. Same low, light F50 speed identity, in a less ceremonial tone for the club season around the tournament.
See Hora Dorada ↗The point of the boot is not the colour, it is the bookend. The same player, the same burst off the first step, the same left foot, twenty years on from his first tournament and almost certainly closing the circle at his last.
Why the Messi F50 Is Not the Standard F50
Most signature boots are a standard boot in a player’s colours. The Messi F50 is one of the few that is actually built differently, and the differences matter if you are deciding whether to buy it.
The upper
Softer than the regular F50
Where the standard F50 has its own synthetic, the Messi F50 is made with HybridTouch, the more pliable material adidas used on the Predator. Straight out of the box it is more comfortable and more giving, with a cushioned feel where the boot presses against the foot.
The fit
The wide-foot friendly F50
That softer upper plus a touch more forefoot width makes the Messi F50 kinder to a wide foot than the standard model. Speed boots usually run narrow and unforgiving, so this is unusual, and it is the best reason a real player might pick the Messi version over the standard F50.
The tongue
The burrito tongue he favours
The Messi F50 carries the wrap-around burrito-style tongue Messi prefers. Worth knowing it can bunch a little on the inside of the foot where it folds in, so it is a matter of taste rather than a clear upgrade, but it is part of what makes the boot specifically his.
Messi Boot Tiers
| Version | EliteMessi’s preference and specification | Elite KidsCatered to youth players | LeagueBudget entry point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boot |
|
|
|
| Upper | Hybridtouch+Synthetic leather baseHalocage+Stability in explosive cutsLaceCover+Hook-and-loop Closure | Hybridtouch+Synthetic leather baseHalocage+Stability in explosive cutsLaceCover+Hook-and-loop Closure | HybridtouchSynthetic leatherLaceCover |
| Soleplate | Speedsystem+Super lightweight LX outsole with bladed studsLightstrikePro socklinerLightweight footbed cushioning | SpeedsystemFull-length TPU with bladed studsLightstrikePro socklinerLightweight footbed cushioning | SpeedsystemFull-length TPU with bladed studs |
| Surfaces | FGAG |
FG |
FGTF |
Scroll the table sideways to see every tier →
Elite Messi F50 Boot Review
Unlike other signature boots, the Messi F50 has a different upper compared to the regular F50 Elite. The biggest difference is the HybridTouch upper, the material that was also present in the 2024/2025 adidas Predator. That makes the Messi F50 immediately more comfortable than the standard F50 because of the inherent softness and pliability of the material. Comparing HybridTouch to HybridTouch though, Messi F50’s upper is relatively more structured and probably has more responsiveness to it. Sprintweb texturing has also been increased when it comes to coverage. Another change is the burrito-styled tongue that Messi really likes on his boots. Just be advised that you might experience some bunching on the medial side where the tongue wraps into. Wider foot shapes can certainly find some accommodation, probably because of the give of the upper and the increase in forefoot width in general. Nothing is different with the soleplate, and so it functions and feels like the usual adidas F50.
Recommendations Regarding Wearing the adidas Messi F50
Messi F50 works best if you want a more comfortable option for an adidas speed boot. The burrito-tongue is a matter of personal preference (to me, I would opt for a regular floating tongue, perhaps even just an integrated knitted tongue to streamline the upper’s press against my feet).
✔️ Pros
- More amenable to wide-feet players
- More comfortable than the regular F50 because of the HybridTouch upper
- Has increased coverage of Sprintweb texturing
- Same outsole performance of the standard F50 Elite
❌ Cons
- Did not feel much advantage with the burrito-tongue
- A few has complained about the structured edge of the upper as part of the design element of newer F50 Messi
Messi F50 League
Judging on its own, the foam-backed synthetic upper of the F50 Messi League is nice and soft for its price point. The touch on the ball is quite disconnected because of the relative thickness of the upper (even the compression fit tongue has added thickness versus that of the F50 Elite’s tongue tunnel), and one also has to decide whether the slick finish is to their liking or not. Fit-wise, the boot is just for narrow feet. The pinch or tape on that forefoot is just too great for wide feet players even if they try to size up. Soleplate is above-average for an academy-tiered boot in terms of midfoot stability and forefoot responsiveness. The studs have been shortened a little bit to help you use it on artificial pitches. Heel lockdown is pretty decent for a takedown option. adidas has lessened the padding but has made the material more grippy and the shape slimmed down to maintain that heel grab.
Messi Boot History
Messi +10
Now at the twilight of his career, Messi marketed these boots as being worn by his handpicked prospects/future stars.
Aurora Radiante – Leaned on the Miami Vice tones to reflect his career at Inter Miami.
Vis10n – Looked into the F50i Messi signature edition from 2009 to convey his footballing foresight.
La Vida Tropical – Added jagged haptic lines to put texture into the design itself; a bolder manifestation of Messi’s Miami stint.
La Vida Rapida – First to include the Messi +10 logo branding
Triunfo Estelar – Initiated the Messi +10 boot series
Watch Messi’s boot history on YouTube:
Messi World Cup Boots and Copa America Pairs
These boots had followed Messi’s international journey, with the recent boots seeing the player win in both regional and World Cup setting.
Triunfo Dorado – Inspired by Messi’s 2014/15 F50 Prime and his Treble; celebrates the return of the F50 in 2024; his boots when Argentina retained the Copa America title.
Leyenda – Worn during Argentina’s successful World Cup run in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
El Retorno – Recreated the colourway of the F30 boot Messi wore when he scored that famous goal against Getafe in 2007; his boots during his first Copa America title
Energy Mode – Featured in the 2018 World Cup, where Messi executed a sublime first touch of a 35-yard pass en route to a goal against Nigeria
Battle Pack – Played in the 2014 World Cup; received an Argentina-inspired colour design instead of the standard monochrome Battle Pack boot
Chameleon – Messi’s iconic purple 2010 World Cup boots; would later inspire later Messi signatures and the launch colourway of the F50 in its return in 2024
Other Iconic Messi Boots
At this point, Messi had amassed a ton of signature boots. There were a few that stood out and deserved some recognition.
Messi 10/10 – Only 89 out of 100 pairs were made available for retail, causing a long queue at the adidas flagship store at Barcelona; considered to be the Holy Grail of Messi boots among collectors.
Ice Metallic – Launched the dedicated Messi silo.
15 Years – Celebrated 15 years since Messi’s professional debut. Packed with numerous career references, including the minute of his debut, Ballon d’Or achievements, and Argentina-inspired graphics.
Mi Historia – Covered with words representing Messi’s life and career, including Familia, La Masia, Respeto, and Equipo.
Lionel Messi and adidas
Lionel Messi’s journey from a young boy in Rosario to one of football’s greatest icons is a story of extraordinary talent and perseverance. Diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at the age of 10, his dream of becoming a professional footballer appeared uncertain until FC Barcelona offered to fund his treatment and bring him into the club’s famed La Masia academy. Messi quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the centerpiece of one of the most dominant club sides in history. During his 17 seasons with Barcelona, he won numerous league titles, domestic cups and four UEFA Champions League trophies while becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer. He later added further silverware with Paris Saint-Germain before embarking on a new chapter with Inter Miami, where he immediately led the club to its first major trophy. Individually, Messi has rewritten the record books with a record eight Ballon d’Or awards, multiple European Golden Shoes and countless scoring and assist records, while his era-defining rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo pushed both superstars to unprecedented heights and defined a generation of football.
Messi’s international career followed a similarly remarkable arc, evolving from repeated heartbreak into complete redemption. After winning Olympic gold with Argentina in 2008, he endured defeats in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final and three consecutive Copa América finals, even briefly announcing his international retirement in 2016. He returned to captain Argentina to the 2021 Copa América, ending a 28-year trophy drought, before lifting the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2024 Copa América to cement his legacy as one of the game’s greatest leaders. Off the pitch, Messi’s career also featured one of football’s most significant sponsorship battles. Having worn Nike boots during his early Barcelona years, he agreed to join Adidas in 2006, sparking a legal dispute after Nike claimed it still held contractual rights to the young star. A Spanish court ultimately ruled in Messi’s favor, clearing the way for his move to Adidas. The decision proved pivotal for both parties, as Messi became the face of the iconic Adidas F50 line throughout the late 2000s and 2010s, starring in some of the brand’s most memorable campaigns before eventually receiving his own signature collections and a lifetime Adidas contract, making him one of the company’s most recognizable athletes ever.
What boots does Lionel Messi wear in 2026?
Messi wears the adidas F50 in his own signature build, which uses a softer upper and a wider fit than the standard F50. For the 2026 World Cup he wears the F50 Messi “El Ultimo Tango”.
What are Messi’s World Cup 2026 boots?
The adidas F50 Messi “El Ultimo Tango”, a tribute to the boots he wore at his first World Cup in 2006, in an ivory, sky blue and gold Argentina colourway. It is widely expected to be his final World Cup.
Are the Messi F50 boots good for wide feet?
More than most speed boots. The Messi F50’s softer HybridTouch upper and slightly wider forefoot make it friendlier to a wide foot than the standard F50, which runs narrow.
How is the Messi F50 different from the normal F50?
It uses a different, softer HybridTouch upper, fits a touch wider, and has the wrap-around burrito tongue Messi prefers. The soleplate is the same, so it performs like a standard F50 underfoot.
Did Messi used to wear Nike?
Yes. He wore the Nike Mercurial Vapor at his Barcelona debut in 2004 before signing with adidas in 2005, and he has worn adidas ever since, most famously the F50 adizero and his own signature line.
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