April 22 – While most 37-year-olds are shopping for sensible footwear, Lionel Messi’s feet remain one of the world’s most valuable real estate investments.
Adidas has doubled down on its star athlete’s twinkle toed dribbling with the release of its latest F50 boot – the eye-popping “La Vida Tropical” edition.
The Miami-inspired kicks made their grand entrance during Inter Miami’s 1-0 victory over Columbus Crew last weekend. Ironically, Messi himself didn’t score the winning goal – proof that even magical boots don’t always come up with the desired result.
The boots feature bold pink and turquoise colorways that scream “¡Bienvenidos a Miami!” The “La Vida Tropical” follows last year’s F50 Triunfo Estalar, continuing Adidas’ commitment to naming conventions that conjure visions of a samba beat.
In a strategic move to future-proof their Messi-dependent revenue streams, Adidas has created a “Messi + 10” initiative, recruiting rising stars like Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and River Plate’s Claudio Echeverri to sport the flashy footwear.
The boots come packed with technical features including the Sprintframe 360 soleplate, Hybridtouch upper, and something called a “Burrito tongue closure” – which we can only assume means the boots wrap around your feet as satisfyingly as a well-made burrito.
Adidas’ strategy to align on-pitch performance with retail activation appears to be working, as the “La Vida Tropical” edition is now available to the general public. However, at $269.99 before tax for the elite model, you might need to check if your salary has any Miami-based tax advantages like Messi’s.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1745329257labto1745329257ofdlr1745329257owedi1745329257sni@r1745329257etsbe1745329257w.kci1745329257n1745329257