Adidas Argentina Messi 2026 'Farewell' Kit Linked to Cult 1986 Maradona Flag Shirt
- Messi's Farewell Kit Resemblance: Lionel Messi's special 2026 farewell kit, designed for his final international match, has been linked by kit enthusiasts to a legendary, rarely seen 1986 national flag jersey associated with Diego Maradona.
- Unique Messi Kit Design: The Adidas Argentina 2026 Messi farewell jersey features a unique design with a sky-blue base and a single wide white central band, replacing traditional stripes, and notably includes Messi's metallic gold 'M' logo in place of the usual Adidas chest branding.
- 1986 Kit's Unused History: The 1986 national flag concept jersey, designed by Oscar Tubío and approved as an alternative kit for the 1990 World Cup, was famously vetoed by manager Carlos Bilardo at the eleventh hour due to superstition, preventing its use on the world stage.
Following the leak of the special Adidas Argentina commemorative kit created for Lionel Messi's final international match against Benin on October 6, 2026, at the Estadio Monumental, kit enthusiasts quickly noticed a striking resemblance to a legendary, rarely seen chapter in Argentine kit folklore. Social media posts, sparked by @LaCasacaBlog, have pointed out clear design parallels between Messi's farewell shirt and the unconventional national flag jersey famously associated with Diego Maradona.
Adidas Argentina Messi 2026 'Farewell' Kit Linked to Cult 1986 Maradona Flag Shirt
The special Adidas Argentina 26-27 Messi Farewell jersey breaks away from the Albiceleste's traditional vertical stripes in favor of a sky-blue base divided by a single wide white central band. In a historic first for an official match shirt, the traditional Adidas chest branding is replaced entirely on the right chest by Messi's metallic gold personal 'M' logo, matched across from a gold-accented three-star AFA crest and framed by black and gold detailing on the crew collar and sleeve cuffs.
While Adidas and the AFA officially present the design as a modern, national-flag-inspired tribute tailored to Messi's historic career, kit collectors were quick to connect it to an iconic archival predecessor.
Back in 1986, Argentine designer Oscar Tubío created a concept jersey directly modeling the national flag, featuring horizontal light blue and white blocks centered around the Sun of May. While the AFA approved it as an alternative kit for the 1990 World Cup, manager Carlos Bilardo famously vetoed the design at the eleventh hour out of superstition, leaving it unused on the world stage.
Whether an intentional homage by the Three Stripes or a serendipitous full circle, Messi's farewell shirt beautifully echoes the rebellious, flag-centric visual language once debuted by Pelusa.
Do you think Argentina Messi’s farewell jersey was inspired by Argentina’s 1986 jersey worn by Maradona? Let me know in the comments below.
No More Puma: Brain Dead UD Ibiza 26-27 Away Kit Released
Spanish club UD Ibiza has officially released its new away kit for the 26-27 season, crafted by creative collective and technical sponsor Brain Dead. Following the takeover from Puma earlier this summer and the previous unveilings of their home and third shirts, this release completes the island club's match collection for the campaign.
The Brain Dead UD Ibiza 26-27 away jersey delivers a bold aesthetic inspired directly by the sargantana ibicenca (the Ibiza wall lizard), an enduring symbol of the island's natural identity. The kit channels the reptile's distinct scales into a contemporary camouflage pattern, blending blurred digital textures in shades of toxic green, moss, and deep black across the entire front, back, and sleeves.
Contrasting the chaotic camouflage base, all accents and club emblems are rendered in a striking electric yellow monochrome, including the UD Ibiza crest, Brain Dead's signature head profile logo, and sponsor branding. The design is finished with a neat black crew-neck collar, matching black sleeve cuffs tipped with white piping, and clean white stripes tracing down each flank.
Haaland Trains in Leaked Nike Phantom 26-27 Signature Boots
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has been spotted wearing his upcoming Nike Phantom 6 signature boots in training with the Norwegian team, confirming the exclusive leak from Footy Headlines. Created for the 26-27 season, the custom pair provides the first look yet at the high-end edition of the Norwegian star's next official on-pitch release.
The new signature boots feature a light blue base. A standout cloud-like graphic wraps around the heel and rear portion of the boot, adding a unique personalized touch to the design. Built on the Phantom 6 framework, the cleats boast Nike's Gripknit material across the upper for optimal ball control alongside the Cyclone 360 soleplate for rotational traction.
Nike is set to launch the Erling Haaland 26-27 signature boots on October 1.
Adidas Argentina Messi Farewell Kit Leaked - 3 New Images
New images of the special commemorative Adidas Argentina kit created for Lionel Messi's final international appearance have been shared by the @TheShirtUnion. The legendary playmaker is scheduled to wear this tribute shirt in his farewell game for the national team against Benin at the Estadio Monumental on October 6, 2026.
Nigeria to Leave Nike and Return to Adidas in Record 2027 Kit Deal
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is set to part ways with Nike after an 11-year partnership and make a high-profile return to Adidas starting in January 2027. The switch will conclude an era with the Swoosh that began in 2015 and produced some of the most iconic and culturally celebrated football shirts of recent times, headlined by the viral 2018 World Cup collection.
The new agreement with Adidas is worth an estimated $8.5 million per year, making it the largest publicly disclosed kit deal in African football history. The contract breaks down into $4.5 million in cash alongside $4 million in kits, equipment, and apparel annually, accompanied by a 20% royalty on official merchandise sold in Nigeria. Nike's long-standing contract had remained static at around $1.5 million in total annual value, and the US brand ultimately declined to exercise its right to match Adidas' significantly enhanced proposal.
This marks a return to the Three Stripes for Nigeria for the first time since 2014. Adidas famously outfitted the Super Eagles during key eras of their history, including their World Cup debut in 1994 and their Africa Cup of Nations triumph in 2013. In tandem with the team sponsorship, Adidas plans to expand its retail footprint across Nigeria to over 30 stores, ensuring vastly improved distribution and accessibility of official gear for supporters.
India 26-27 Home, Away & Third Kits Released
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and technical sponsor Nivia Sports have officially launched the new India 26-27 home, away, and third kits. The new collection will be worn in the high-profile series of international friendlies against Panama, Brazil, and Uruguay.
The India 26-27 home shirt features a vibrant light blue base combined with bright orange accents on the side panels, V-neck collar, and sleeve cuffs. Subtly woven into the fabric is a peacock feather jacquard pattern, complemented by patterned ethnic-inspired taping running down the shoulders and golden piping framing the front. In line with the rest of the collection, the AIFF crest is centrally aligned on the chest, with the Nivia logo situated just below.
Completing the range, the away jersey arrives in dark blue with clean white contrast piping along the collar, cuffs, and shoulder inserts for a classic aesthetic. The third kit switches to an energetic saffron orange look accented by rich blue side panels and sleeve trim, mirroring the shoulder pattern details from the primary strip.
Adidas Argentina Messi Farewell Player & Keeper Kit Leaked - Official Pictures
We can leak official images of the Adidas Argentina commemorative collection celebrating Lionel Messi ahead of his final international appearance for the Albiceleste. The centerpiece of the capsule is the bespoke home shirt, rounded out by a dark green goalkeeper edition and a radiant light blue pre-match shirt, crafted as a fitting tribute ahead of Messi's emotional farewell against Benin on October 6, 2026.






