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
Which Messi tier should you choose?
Choose the Elite if you want the full Messi boot experience.
Choose the Academy if you like a basic, functional boot with a Messi colourway.
Messi F50 Boot Review
Elite F50 Messi
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
Aurora Radiante
Aurora Radiante followed up a series of Messi signatures that relied on his Inter Miami career for design inspiration. Taking into account that Miami Vice colours, the boot used pink to highlight the stakeholders’ logos and turquoise for the bespoke Messi F50 graphic element. Because it was pressed against a clean backdrop of white, the wavy aesthetic was able to capture both the feel of the South Beach and Messi’s state of speed and motion when his on the zone. Adding a sense of jolt was the volt yellow accent coming from the studs and the single highlight on the lateral and medial graphic.
Vis10n
Vis1on carried inspiration from the F50i Messi signature edition of 2009. It was mainly blue, and had a tonal, lighter shade for the bespoke wavy graphic on the sides of the boot. A few more pinstripe ones provided additional visual activity, and the same can be said for the yellow accents of the forefoot Stripes and other branding logos.
Prestig10
This white Messi signature transitioned to silver and red tones toward the bottom of the boot. But the main attraction was on the sides, which cascaded a series of wavy lines. The said graphic surely harked back to the Tunit era of the F50 from 2007 to 2009. And with the said aesthetics being punctuated by red Stripes and F50 branding, Prestig10 was one of those that blended iconic looks from the past with contemporary vibe.
La Vida Tropical
South Beach and Inter Miami were at the forefront once again with this Messi signature released in April 2025. It exuded the Miami vice vibe with its combination of the relatively lighter Flash Aqua base with the fuller shades of Lucid Cyan and Lucid Pink providing the supporting roles. Speaking of the accents, the former informed the colouring the of the forefoot chevron pattern that then flowed flawlessly toward creating the lightning edges of the boot. The latter focused more on the brandings and logos. One can easily make the argument though that the colourway felt like a simpler version of the Bienvenido a Miami, a Messi signature during the X Crazyfast era.
La Vida Rapida
The next in the Messi +10 series was the predominantly silverish La Vida Rapida, which had a blue accent appearing on the bespoke F50 pattern on the forefoot and the lip trim. Another secondary colour detail was the volt yellow for the stripes, the haptic lines and the Messi heel logo. La Vida Rapida changed the smooth and linear orientation of the haptic lines to jagged for a speedier look.
Messi x Bad Bunny
adidas collaborated with rapper and Messi-fan Bad Bunny to launch a Messi boot in 2024. This was launched around the same time as the Triunfo Estelar signature. For the Messi x Bad Bunny, it reformulated the 2024 F50 with the HybridTouch upper and knit burrito-styled tongue that was favoured by the player. It was worn by Messi during Decision Day, when Inter Miami made history by having the all-time best winning percentage and most points to close out the regular season. Messi scored a hat-trick, his first in MLS, on the said match.
As for the look itself, the boot was mostly brownish gold and had the pinstripe trims in an off-white accent. A clearer white coloured the set of Stripes on one side, opposite the other one in cyan. Speaking of cyan, it informed the outlook of the Messi and Bad Bunny logos occupying their respective side of the pair. Bad Bunny Messi boot had a black tag on the tongue that further carried cyan text. It read ‘messi para bad bunny’ and had the classic Trefoil logo on the side. In contrast to the straightforward colouring on the upper, the soleplate expressed some iridescent mellow luster.
Messi Triunfo Estelar
Messi continued to achieve stellar triumphs in 2024 with Argentina’s Copa America title and Inter Miami’s Supporter Shield. It laid another groundwork for adidas to honour their GOAT star with a signature boot, even launching it on 10.10, then proclaimed as Messi Day. Football fanatics might had taken issue with dedicating 10.10 for Messi, considering the likes of Maradona and Pele also giving justic to the no. No doubt though that at least for this generation La Pulga Atomica completely owned the no. 10.
The Triunfo Estelar F50 brought back Messi’s favoured tech of Hybridtouch upper with burrito-styled tongue. A pristine white shade clouded the boot’s base, which in turn showcased the football star’s iconic Chameleon purple on the usual F50 trim graphics. Neon green pinstripe highlights complemented the main accent. The Messi logo proudly occupied the heel.
Watch Messi’s boot history on YouTube:
2022 Qatar WC Messi Boots
Dubbed as the ‘Leyenda,’ this pair of signature X Speedportals takes us back to where the legend of Messi in the World Cup began-in 2006 wearing the F30s as made evident by the curvy striping on the medial side and the +F30 branding itself on the instep. The gold colourway gets a whole new meaning if you consider 2022 as possibly Messi’s last shot of securing a WC title.
X Speedportal
With the launch of the Speedportal in 2022, Messi briefly wore the launch Game Data edition in preseason training and scored with them in the first match of Ligue 1, before switching to his first signature edition Speedportal.
Messi X Speedflow (2021)
Mi Historia Messi X Speedflow
Mi Historia – Reused the Solar Gold once applied on a 2014/15 Messi signature and carried stylised words on the upper that reflect the principles Messi valued the most
adidas FIFA 22 Numbersup Football Boots
adidas Numbersup – Inspired by the attributes players have in FIFA 22, the adidas boots all get 99 Pace, 99 Dribbling and 99 Passing graphics applied over clear grey Predator, X and Copa boots.
El Retorno Messi X Speedflow
adidas El Retorno Speedflow – Recreated the colourway of the F30 boot Messi wore when he scored that famous goal against Getafe in 2007
Messi Nemeziz
Previously Messi wore the sports taping-inspired Nemeziz with it’s Bandage System upper that stretches along with the movement of the foot and allows it to be agile because of its tension tape-like fit. The split outsole and its Torsion System technology give the needed amount of twist to execute quick turns and change in direction, Messi often gets his own Messi Nemeziz 19.1 editions from adidas.
Showpiece Pack
adidas Showpiece Pack: Silver &: Gold boots for the end of season finals and heading into the Euros with the summer 2021 adidas boot pack.
adidas Rey Del Balon Messi Nemeziz .1 Boots
adidas drop their latest signature edition for Lionel Messi with the Rey Del Balon boots to celebrate him becoming the highest goalscorer for a single club, at Barcelona in 2021.
Messi Nemeziz 19.1 Barcelona Rosario Football Boot
New boots for Leo with his new Nemeziz Messi 19.1 coming in a special edition that celebrates his home town of Rosario on one boot and his current home of Barcelona on the other!
Messi Nemeziz Purple 19.1 Football Boots
In celebration of his sixth Balon D’Or adidas create the Tech Indigo Nemeziz 19.1 Messi, with a throwback to the 2010 F50 adizero Chameleon worn at the 2010 World Cup.
adidas 302 Redirect Football Boots Pack
adidas drop a new Nemeziz 19 for Messi and bring out a new X19 too in time for the big 2019 end of season games, including the Champions League final. Each boot gets a new look in the adidas 302 Redirect Pack.
adidas Initiator Pack with brand new Copa 19
adidas reveal their first leather laceless Copa boot as part of the Initiator pack that sees a new design for the Predator 19 as boots combine white, red and black into classic adidas looks
adidas Spectral Mode Boots Pack
Launched in September 2018, adidas’ Spectral Mode Pack arrives after the beginning of the 2018-19 season and features five unique trainer-esque inspired designs on their four silos of Predator, X, Nemeziz and Copa.
adidas Team Mode 2018/19 Season
This adidas Team Mode pack, has to include a boot for you… Arguably the most complete adidas pack in years, not one boot misses a step in terms of colours used by adidas.
adidas World Cup Boots – Energy Mode
The X18 gets an upgrade in time for the Champions League final, with them now laceless, the rest of the Energy Mode pack for the World Cup sees an updated Nemeziz 18 and Messi Nemeziz as well as Yellow Predators and a Red Copa launched
Blue Green Deadly Strike adidas Boots Pack
adidas release the Deadly Strike pack, a collection of green and boots to worn on pitch for the next stage of the Champions League and by star adidas players like Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Iklay Gundagon and Gabriel de Jesus.
adidas Cold Blooded
Launched in January 2018, adidas’ Cold Blooded Pack had arguably started the year in pole position due to such a stunning collection of football boots – something which was arguably required after their previous questionable Lone Hunter Pack.
adidas Skystalker
Released for sale in-line with Christmas 2017, adidas shock the football boot world by not only dropping their Skystalker Pack however by including their all-new 18+ Predator which succeeded the Purecontrol silo.
Lionel Messi History
Messi previously wore the Messi range after introducing himself onto the world stage in adidas’ F50 adiZero leather boot, adidas’ lightweight speed boot. Messi has been the poster boy for adidas for several years and the German brand have produced several signature Messi boots including the Messi Nemeziz, Pibe Dr Barr10, Mirosar10 and 10/10 editions.
Lionel Messi was born in Rosario Argentina on June 24th 1987. Messi is regarded as one of the best players of all time. Messi began his career at Newell’s Old Boys from 1995-2000. Messi had a growth hormone deficiency at a young age and Barcelona were able to offer him affordable treatment so his family moved to Spain. Messi joined Barcelona in 2000 where he progressed well through the youth sides. He made his first-team debut in October 2004 against RCD Espanyol and netted his first goal for the club in May 2005 aged only 17 years old.
Lionel’s Messi’s career can be summarized with two words, Barcelona and trophies. At this moment’s writing, Messi has ten titles from La Liga, six Copa del Reys, seven Supercopa de España, three FIFA Club World Cups, and four champion finishes in the UCL. He owns a gold medal as well with Argentina winning the 2008 Summer Olympics Football finals and before that, he was part of the U20 Argentina team that won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship.
He has continued to be a pillar of Barcelona and the La Liga in general by being the current all-time top goalscorer in both respects. Overshadowing his numerous individual awards is his six Balon d’Or which is currently the most for a single player. His La Liga rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo is both historic and legendary. Given his small stature, he has earned the nickname La Pulga Atomica (the atomic flea) which further emphasized his technical abilities in contrast to the muscular athletic yet similarly effective conditioning of Ronaldo.
At the age of 14, Messi signed a deal with Nike after his move to Barcelona from Newell’s Old Boys, at the time Ronaldo was wearing the Nike Mercurial Vapor II boot. Lionel made his Barcelona debut in 2004 wearing the Nike Mercurial Vapor, but by 2005 adidas and Nike had come head to head for Messi’s boot sponsorship, with Messi signing with the three stripes. In 2006 Messi joined the likes of David Beckham and Michael Ballack, as a poster boy for the brand, Messi added a different style of boots to their collection with the F50.
Messi wore the F50 Titan TUNIT boot in 2007 and the customisable TUNIT boot was developed in 2009. In 2009 he wore the F30i TUNIT rather than the F50i TUNIT due to the models fixed-sole studs. He wore the F30s for his Olympic Gold medal and 2009 FIFA Player of the Year award. adidas released the F50 adiZero boot before the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The revolutionary boot weighed in at just 165 grams which made it the lightest and fastest adidas boot ever developed. The adiZero Prime was the next boot which Messi wore. The boot weighed in at 145 grams making them the lightest boots on the market. Winning several Ballon d’Or and individual titles, Messi has had several one-off boots made for him.
By 2015, the Messi would get his own boot line with the Messi 10.1 and later 15.1, adidas released a unique black 10/10 edition in October of the same year with only 100 pairs to be sold worldwide, the ten ten boots repeating for 3 seasons. Messi continued with the Messi line up until 2017, the year he started wearing the Nemeziz. In between World Cup calls, UCL championship wins, La Liga titles, and even birthdays, Messi had received signature colourways from each of the Adidas silos (on top of his own Adidas signature boot line of course). Messi’s long history with Adidas has resulted in the release of the ‘15 Años’ Nemeziz 19.1 in 2019, a celebration of Messi’s 15 years with FC Barcelona. He also was given the Tech Indigo Messi Nemeziz 19.1, after winning his sixth Balon d’Or in the same year.
