With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, adidas has unveiled Backyard Legends, a cinematic short film that swaps the stadium for the street pitch and builds an entire mythology around the idea that legends are born in backyards, not just on broadcast stages.
The five-minute film stars Academy Award-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet as the would-be challenger who sets out to assemble a team capable of toppling an undefeated local trio known as Clive, Ruthie and Isaak. Their legend runs so deep that 90s icons Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Alessandro Del Piero have apparently already tried and failed. The nostalgic setup gives adidas a canvas to blend eras, and they exploit every frame of it.
Chalamet is joined by Lionel Messi, Bad Bunny, Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal and Trinity Rodman, each drafted into his squad with the kind of star power that only adidas could marshal in a single campaign. Blink-and-you-miss-them appearances from Ousmane Dembele, Raphinha, Pedri, Florian Wirtz and Santiago Gimenez pile on more talent, each cameo functioning as a quiet flex from the brand.
For Chalamet, the project clearly struck a personal chord. "I used to dream of playing with these guys," he said. "I was playing at Pier 40 as a kid, thinking about Beckham's free kicks, Del Piero's goals, and Zidane's volleys. I love this game, so it's unbelievable to be doing this with adidas, captured with the best to ever do it. I'm a traditionalist, I don't know soccer, I know football, and I can't wait for this summer's World Cup."
Visually, Backyard Legends leans hard into nostalgia. Set to a classic soundtrack, the film layers 90s street and terrace style, era-defining haircuts and analogue tech with cutting-edge CGI. The result is a rich, immersive world that turns a simple neighbourhood kickabout into something epic. It is not subtle, but that is entirely the point.
Anchored by adidas's "You Got This" mindset, the campaign bridges past legends, present superstars and the next generation in one breathless, entertaining package. By highlighting the pure joy and freedom of street football, adidas has set a formidable bar for World Cup marketing. Over to you, Nike.