Spain's Blind 5-a-side Football Team Take On Messi, Busquets, Rakitic and Co
Sep 9, 2016, by Chris
Have you ever seen Messi playing football blindfolded? FCB Foundation, UNICEF and the International Paralympic Committee have created a video that stresses the importance of inclusive sport featuring Messi, Busquets, Rakitic, Sergi Roberto and Masip who are playing against Spain's blind 5-a-side football team.
FC Barcelona Foundation Supports Inclusive Sport
What happens in the video? Spanish 5-a-side Paralympic players Pedro Gutiérrez, Jose Luis Giera, Javier Álvaro, Francisco Javier Pérez, Marcelo Rosado and Sergio Cano show Jordi Masip, Sergi Roberto, Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic and Leo Messi the basics, while they then compete blindfold against members of the Spanish national 5-a-side blind football team in a penalty shootout.
However, as well being a lot of fun, there was logically also a serious side. The video was made by the FC Barcelona Foundation, UNICEF and the International Paralympic Committee on occasion of the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, which opened on Wednesday. It symbolises the essence of inclusive sport by showing how implicated the first team players are in the work being done by the Foundation, with their shared conviction that all children have the right to play, and that their abilities should not matter.
As Philip Craven, president of the International Paralympic Committee, comments: "This video shows the skills and abilities of visually handicapped footballers. The response from Messi, Busquets, Masip, Rakitic and Sergi Roberto shows that they consider play without eyesight to be a challenge. And it shows how amazing these 5-a-side players are, who are able to face a penalty without one of the most important senses."
Anthony Lake, executive director of UNICEF, adds that "the Paralympic Games show that it’s ability, and not disability, that determines what somebody can achieve. This video shows that children should not face any limitations when it comes to aspiring to achievements in sport, at school or in life. UNICEF feels proud to be able to work with its beloved Barça to offer so many boys and girls the chance to play, learn and make the very most of their abilities, and therefore their lives."
Outstanding CP Cacereño 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Spanish club CP Cacereño and new kit supplier Hummel have officially unveiled the team's new home and away kits for the 26-27 season. Marking the beginning of their technical partnership, Hummel has created two distinct custom designs heavily inspired by local culture and mythology.
The CP Cacereño 26-27 home kit features a rich green base dominated by an intricate graphic depicting dragon scales across the front panel. The design links directly to the club's release slogan, "No soy un futbolista, soy un dragón". White detailing is applied to the classic collar, sleeve cuffs, Hummel chevrons, and sponsor logos to complete the jersey.
The 26-27 away kit presents a half-and-half split layout featuring a white base paired with an orange front panel. The bottom portion of the shirt highlights a graphic illustration of the historic fortress walls of Cáceres alongside dragon tail motifs, finished with fine black detailing along the V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs.
Samsunspor 26-27 Home Kit Released
Turkish Süper Lig club Samsunspor has officially launched its new striped home kit for the 26-27 season, produced by Hummel.
The Hummel Samsunspor 26-27 home jersey features vertical red stripes over a white base, paired with plain white sleeves accented by red sleeve cuffs. A red polo collar with white edge piping and a red V-neck inset gives the shirt a classic look, while iconic white Hummel chevrons rest on the shoulders.
The reverse side of the shirt incorporates a white back panel for player names and numbers, framed by red stripe details at the top and bottom hem, along with red Samsunspor lettering printed on the upper back. The kit is now officially available for pre-order.
Lazio End Polymarket Shirt Sponsorship Deal After Italian Regulatory Block
SS Lazio's front-of-shirt sponsorship deal with prediction market platform Polymarket has come to an abrupt end just months after being announced. The multi-year agreement, signed in April 2026 and valued at over 20 million euros, faced immediate trouble following regulatory action in Italy. The Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) placed Polymarket on its blacklist, classifying the platform as an unlicensed gambling operator and blocking domain access nationwide.
Following the ban, Lazio removed all Polymarket branding from their official website, club store, and team kits. The Biancocelesti took the field with blank kit fronts during their recent 26-27 pre-season friendly against Avellino. This rapid disappearance comes shortly after the club had finally resolved a three-year shirt sponsor drought that dated back to the end of the 22-23 season.
Reports indicate that Lazio and Polymarket are now negotiating an economic resolution to terminate the partnership. A financial settlement will allow the club to clear any contractual obligations and seek a replacement main sponsor before the 26-27 Serie A season kicks off.
More Affordable PSG Jordan Wings Collection to Launch with 26-27 Fourth Kit
Paris Saint-Germain and Jordan Brand are set to bring back the popular Wings concept for their 26-27 fourth kit and lifestyle line in January 2027. Following the success of the original luxury collection, the upcoming Wings 2.0 release will return with a fresh visual approach while taking strong inspiration from urban fashion culture.
As per @lasource75006, a key change for the new collection is a more accessible pricing structure compared to the high-end first edition.
Under the theme Greatness from Greater Paris, the new capsule broadens its story beyond central Paris to represent the entire metropolitan region. The 26-27 fourth jersey itself is expected to feature a white base with black wing accents across the shoulders, reversing the color scheme of the previous navy and white design.
Boca Juniors 26-27 Home Kit Spotted on Sale Early
The upcoming Adidas Boca Juniors 26-27 home kit has already landed on store shelves ahead of its official launch. Pictures taken inside an Adidas store in New York confirm that the authentic player version jersey is currently on sale for $160 USD. Thanks to @marto_m3.
The 26-27 home shirt stays true to the club's traditional look, featuring a classic blue base highlighted by the iconic yellow chest stripe. Bright yellow detailing covers the collar trim, Adidas logo, and three stripes along the shoulders. Sponsor logos include Betsson across the yellow chest band, Cetrogar on the sleeves, and DirecTV on the lower back, while XENEIZE is printed in yellow on the upper back neck.
KV Mechelen 26-27 Home Kit Released
Belgian Pro League club KV Mechelen have officially unveiled their new 2026-27 home kit. Made by Erreà, the shirt celebrates the club's historic 1946 league title.
The Erreà KV Mechelen 2026-27 home shirt features a wide central yellow panel framed by bold red side panels and sleeves. Yellow trim appears on the crew-neck collar and sleeve cuffs, while the club crest is positioned centrally on the chest alongside the Erreà logo and sponsor, creating a clean and balanced look. The kit is completed with black shorts and matching socks featuring yellow and red detailing.
What do you think of KV Mechelen's new 2026-27 home kit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Galatasaray 26-27 Fourth Kit Leaked
Based on the leaked images, @Formaholic has recreated the new Galatasaray 26-27 fourth kit concept to show what it could look like on the pitch.
The Puma Galatasaray 26-27 fourth shirt features alternating red and orange vertical stripes across the front and sleeves, complemented by an elegant red polo collar. A white Puma cat logo sits on the right chest, while the club's iconic crest complete with its four stars rests on the left. The classic color setup and tailored collar create a refined look that bridges historical heritage with modern sportswear.
The new Galatasaray 26-27 fourth jersey is expected to be officially launched in February 2027. It will complement the club's home, away, and third kits for the season, offering a classic striped option during the second half of the campaign.
AS Roma 26-27 Away Kit Spotted On Sale Early
The unreleased Adidas AS Roma 26-27 away kit has been spotted available for purchase early inside a Sports Direct store. X user @nftotti shared a photo of the jersey on display well ahead of its scheduled official launch.
The kit features an 'Ecru' (off-white) base color, a red and yellow horizontal chest band, and an old Roma logo from 1945-1949, complemented by the Adidas Trefoil.
This early in-store sighting provides a complete look at the final retail version of the kit, featuring Adidas Climacool technology branding at the lower hem. AS Roma and Adidas are set to officially launch the 26-27 away kit on August 8.
