From color-blocked cleats to brightly colored laces, Lionel Messi’s choice in footwear has been noted as one of interest throughout his career. The athlete has dabbled with several brands, styles and colorways in order to become a top performer in his sport.
Messi signed a lifetime deal with Adidas in 2017. The player is even getting his own Adidas Samba sneaker in 2024 with colorways designed to represent his heritage.
Here, FN is breaking down some of Messi’s most iconic cleats throughout his soccer career.
Lionel Messi plays the ball during a Primera Liga match between Cadiz and F.C. Barcelona on Dec. 17, 2005 at the Ramon de Carranza stadium in Cadiz, Spain. The athlete wore a pair of white and navy color-blocked cleats from Nike.
Lionel Messi plays the ball during a Primera Liga match between Cadiz and F.C. Barcelona on Dec. 17, 2005 at the Ramon de Carranza stadium in Cadiz, Spain. The athlete wore a pair of white and navy color-blocked cleats from Nike.
Lionel Messi (L), pictured here with Bruno Soriano, during the Copa del Rey match at the El Madrigal stadium on Jan. 24, 2008 in Villarreal, Spain. The athlete played in a apaur of silver and navy cleats.
Lionel Messi (L), pictured here with Bruno Soriano, during the Copa del Rey match at the El Madrigal stadium on Jan. 24, 2008 in Villarreal, Spain. The athlete played in a apaur of silver and navy cleats.
Lionel Messi attempts to move past Sergio Busquets of Spain during the friendly International football match Spain against Argentina at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, on Nov. 14, 2009 in Madrid, Spain. The athlete wore a pair of eye-catching lime green cleats from Adidas.
Lionel Messi attempts to move past Sergio Busquets of Spain during the friendly International football match Spain against Argentina at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid, on Nov. 14, 2009 in Madrid, Spain. The athlete wore a pair of eye-catching lime green cleats from Adidas
Lionel Messi reacts after failing to score from the penalty spot during the La Liga match between Barcelona and Recreativo Huelva at the Camp Nou Stadium on April 11, 2009 in Barcelona, Spain. The atlete was wearing a pair of gray cleats with blue accents.
Lionel Messi reacts after failing to score from the penalty spot during the La Liga match between Barcelona and Recreativo Huelva at the Camp Nou Stadium on April 11, 2009 in Barcelona, Spain. The atlete was wearing a pair of gray cleats with blue accents.
Lionel Messi (L) gets ready to take a free kick beside Xavi Hernandez during the La Liga match between Barcelona and Xerez CD at Camp Nou stadium on April 24, 2010 in Barcelona, Spain. The player wore a pair of all-white cleats.
Lionel Messi (L) gets ready to take a free kick beside Xavi Hernandez during the La Liga match between Barcelona and Xerez CD at Camp Nou stadium on April 24, 2010 in Barcelona, Spain. The player wore a pair of all white cleats.
Lionel Messi reacts after a failed scoring attempt during the first half of a friendly match against the United States at New Meadowlands Stadium on March 26, 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The athlete played in a pair of bright orange cleats from Adidas.
Lionel Messi reacts after a failed scoring attempt during the first half of a friendly match against the United States at New Meadowlands Stadium on March 26, 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The athlete played in a pair of bright orange cleats from Adidas.
Lionel Messi runs with the ball during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Granada CF at Camp Nou on March 20, 2012 in Barcelona, Spain. The player wore a pair of red and blue color-blocked cleats from Adidas.
Lionel Messi runs with the ball during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Granada CF at Camp Nou on March 20, 2012 in Barcelona, Spain. The player wore a pair of red and blue color-blocked cleats from Adidas.
Lionel Messi warms up prior to the start of the la Liga match between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona at Cornella-El Prat Stadium on Jan. 8, 2012 in Barcelona, Spain. The athlete wore bright orange cleats with lime green accents from Adidas.
Lionel Messi warms up prior to the start of the la Liga match between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona at Cornella-El Prat Stadium on Jan. 8, 2012 in Barcelona, Spain. The athlete wore bright orange cleats with lime green accents from Adidas.
Lionel Messi in action during the UEFA Champions League Group G match between Celtic and Barcelona at Celtic Park on Nov. 7, 2012 in Glasgow, Scotland. The athlete was wearing a yellow pair of cleats from Adidas.
Lionel Messi in action during the UEFA Champions League Group G match between Celtic and Barcelona at Celtic Park on Nov. 7, 2012 in Glasgow, Scotland. The athlete was wearing a yellow pair of cleats from Adidas.
Lionel Messi reacts defeated after his team fails to score during the La Liga match between CA Osasuna and FC Barcelona at El Sadar stadium on October 19, 2013 in Pamplona, Spain. The player is seen wearing a apir of purple and orange cleats from Adidas.
Lionel Messi reacts defeated after his team fails to score during the La Liga match between CA Osasuna and FC Barcelona at El Sadar stadium on October 19, 2013 in Pamplona, Spain. The player is seen wearing a apir of purple and orange cleats from Adidas.
Lionel Messi scores their third goal during the La Liga match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on February 9, 2014 in Seville, Spain. The player wore a pair of deep blue cleats with orange laces from Adidas.
Lionel Messi scores their third goal during the La Liga match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on February 9, 2014 in Seville, Spain. The player wore a pair of deep blue cleats with orange laces from Adidas.
Lionel Messi looks dejected after Iago Aspas of Celta Vigo scored his team’s second goal during the La Liga match between Celta Vigo and FC Barcelona at Estadio Balaidos on Sept. 23, 2015 in Vigo, Spain. The athlete wore a pair of white cleats with blue accents.
Lionel Messi looks dejected after Iago Aspas of Celta Vigo scored his team’s second goal during the La Liga match between Celta Vigo and FC Barcelona at Estadio Balaidos on Sept. 23, 2015 in Vigo, Spain. The athlete wore a pair of white cleats with blue accents.
Lionel Messi (R), pictured here with Luis Suarez, celebrates after scoring his team’s fourth goal during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis Balompie at Camp Nou on Aug. 20, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. The player was wearing a pair of striking blue cleats from Adidas.
Lionel Messi (R), pictured here with Luis Suarez, celebrates after scoring his team’s fourth goal during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis Balompie at Camp Nou on Aug. 20, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. The player was wearing a pair of striking blue cleats from Adidas.
Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the La Liga match between SD Eibar and FC Barcelona at Ipurua Municipal Stadium on March 6, 2016 in Eibar, Spain. The athlete wore a pair of lime green cleats with orange and black accents.
Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the La Liga match between SD Eibar and FC Barcelona at Ipurua Municipal Stadium on March 6, 2016 in Eibar, Spain. The athlete wore a pair of lime green cleats with orange and black accents.
Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the Group B match of the UEFA Champions League between FC Barcelona and PSV at Camp Nou on Sept. 18, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. The player wore a pair of baby blue cleats from Adidas.
Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the Group B match of the UEFA Champions League between FC Barcelona and PSV at Camp Nou on Sept. 18, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. The player wore a pair of babay blue cleats from Adidas.
Lionel Messi prepares to take a free kick during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Argentina and Iceland at Spartak Stadium on June 16, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. The player was wearing a pair of striking green cleats from Adidas.
Lionel Messi prepares to take a free kick during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group D match between Argentina and Iceland at Spartak Stadium on June 16, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. The player was wearing a pair of striking green cleats from Adidas.
Lionel Messi celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad at Camp Nou on March 07, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. The player wore a pair of blue and white cleats.
Lionel Messi celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad at Camp Nou on March 07, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. The player wore a pair of blue and white cleats.
Lionel Messi reacts to Getafe CF scoring their first goal during the La Liga Santander match between Getafe CF and FC Barcelona at Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Oct. 17, 2020 in Getafe, Spain. The athlete wore a pair of multicolored cleats featuring shades of blue, green, orange and black.
Lionel Messi reacts to Getafe CF scoring their first goal during the La Liga Santander match between Getafe CF and FC Barcelona at Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Oct. 17, 2020 in Getafe, Spain. The athlete wore a pair of multicolored cleats featuring shades of blue, green, orange and black.
Lionel Messi prepares to take a free kick during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification match between Argentina and Venezuela at Estadio Alberto J. Armando on March 25, 2022 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The athlte was wearing yellow and black cleats from Adidas.
Lionel Messi prepares to take a free kick during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification match between Argentina and Venezuela at Estadio Alberto J. Armando on March 25, 2022 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The athlte was wearing yellow and black cleats from Adidas.
Lionel Messi takes a free kick in the second half during a match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium on Aug. 30, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The player wore a pair of silver and blue cleats from Adidas.
Lionel Messi reacts after being tackled in the second half during a match between Nashville SC and Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium on Aug. 30, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The player wore a pair of silver and blue cleats from Adidas.
