Rick and Morty Promote Adidas X Speedportal
The latest incarnation of Adidas' speed boot silo, the X Speedportal, was officially released yesterday. As well as including top players like Mo Salah in the launch campaign, Adidas went a different marketing route, bringing the Rick and Morty team on board to create a short video.
Rick and Morty Adidas X Speedportal Ad
The "Solar Green/Core Black/Solar Yellow" colourway and the name of the boot itself bear obvious similarities to the portals used by Rick and Morty to travel through space, creating an easy tie-in for the German brand and the hit tv show.
Alongside the photos of Salah emerging from a portal wearing the new boots, a Rick and Morty short was produced starring the Liverpool forward, as well as star of the Dutch women's team and raw herring enthusiast, Vivianne Miedema.
The titular protagonists were obviously involved, with the show's trademark humour seeing Morty unwillingly thrown into a football-themed adventure while wearing the new boots, all for the Rick's personal gain, which in this case was "free sandwiches in the press area."
Collaborations are now a well-worn part of marketing and sales drives from brands and clubs alike, and although the popularity of the cartoon guarantees wide-reaching publicity for the X Speedportal boots, Adidas deserve some credit for this effort.
They allowed their product to be humorously mocked, with the boot's tech features dismissively referred to as "marketing terms".
It seems that they didn't attempt to stifle the creativity or interfere with the writing process, letting the otherworldly humour be the focal point of the ad instead of going for a hard sell and portraying the boots as "game changers" or other similar hyperbole.
Rick's indifference to the whole thing is clear at the end, a believable representation of his character from the show rather than an altered version for advertising purposes only.
What do you think of this marketing collaboration from Adidas and Rick and Morty? Would you like to see more light-hearted stuff like this from the big brands? Or do you think the usual, more serious campaigns work better? Share your views in the comments.
Viktor Gyokeres Sticks to Lucky Old-Gen Nike Mercurial Vapor 16 'Mad Ambition' Boots
Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres has developed a superstition regarding his football boots, choosing to stick with an older colorway of the Nike Mercurial Vapor 16. Despite Nike releasing several newer packs, the forward continues to wear the Mad Ambition edition. He considers this specific pair to be his lucky boots due to his prolific goalscoring form while wearing them.
Interestingly, Gyokeres has been spotted testing and warming up in newer Nike Mercurial releases. However, when it comes to the actual matches, he consistently reverts to his trusted Mad Ambition Vapor 16s. This practice of wearing new boots during warm-ups but relying on a comfortable, proven pair for competitive play highlights how important gear familiarity and superstition can be for a striker.
Uruguay Requests FIFA 'Legacy' Patch for Muslera's 2026 World Cup Kit
The Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) has formally requested that FIFA allow goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to wear the special 'Legacy' patch on his jersey sleeve during the 2026 World Cup. The patch is designated for players who have participated in five or more World Cup tournaments, a milestone Muslera is reaching with his inclusion in the 2026 squad.
Muslera was initially excluded from receiving the patch by FIFA because he did not register any playing time during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, despite being part of the official squad. His previous World Cup appearances came in 2010, 2014, and 2018. The AUF is now pushing for his recognition alongside other five-time tournament veterans such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Manuel Neuer, and Luka Modrić.
The 40-year-old goalkeeper is expected to start in Uruguay's opening match of the 2026 World Cup. If FIFA approves the request, Muslera's jersey will feature the 'Legacy' patch, marking his long-standing service to the national team across five different World Cup campaigns.
Spain 2026 World Cup Climacool Pre-Match Jacket Turns Heads
Spain's 2026 Climacool pre-match jacket, designed by Adidas for the 2026 World Cup, has caught the attention of fans and media alike. Worn by the players ahead of their matches in the tournament, the jacket has sparked a strong reaction online.
The Adidas Spain 2026 pre-match jacket features the usual design but with the striking, glossy Climacool look.
The Adidas Climacool 2026 World Cup Climacool jacket is not available to buy - Adidas only offers the regular version.
Thibaut Courtois Wears Special World Cup Golden Glove Patch
Following the introduction of special FIFA player patches for the 2026 World Cup, Thibaut Courtois has been spotted wearing a special Golden Glove patch on his Belgium kit, commemorating his award-winning performance at the 2018 tournament.
The new initiative by FIFA allows past award winners, including recipients of the Golden Boot, Golden Ball, and Golden Glove, to display their historic individual achievements directly on the sleeves of their national team shirts.
