Classic, modern, and dripping in legacy, the adidas F50 TUNiT makes its triumphant return, and it does so in a look that takes us back 20 years, to a young Lionel Messi. This is Three Stripes heritage at its finest.
adidas are digging deep into the archives once again, and this time they’re going straight for the heartstrings. Following the return of the F50 Spider late last year, the Three Stripes now bring back one of the most iconic boots of the modern era — the F50 TUNiT — reimagined through the lens of the greatest to ever do it. This is the adidas F50 TUNiT x Messi, and it’s pure 2006 energy.
Cast your mind back two decades. A fresh-faced Leo Messi stepped onto the world stage at the 2006 World Cup wearing the F50 TUNiT, announcing himself in boots that would go on to define a generation. Fast forward 20 years and adidas are paying tribute to that moment with the Messi 2026 TUNiT, a faithful remake of the original, updated with today’s F50 tech.
Landing in a sharp "Lucid Lemon / Team Royal Blue / Lucid Aquamarine" colourway, the boot stays true to its roots. A white leather upper forms the base, overlaid with those unmistakable grey curved lines that ripple across the lateral side in a flowing, wave-like pattern — a design language instantly recognisable to anyone who lived through the TUNiT era. Light blue accents hit the heel counter and upper details, adding a subtle flash of colour that elevates the classic look without overdoing it.
While the original TUNiT system was all about modularity, Messi famously opted for customised F30i boots back in the day, favouring a fixed soleplate over the interchangeable setup. This time around, adidas have fused heritage with performance, pairing the iconic upper aesthetic with the modern F50 soleplate, delivering lightweight speed with contemporary responsiveness underfoot.
And it’s not just a nostalgia play — this boot is already being laced up by the next generation. Franco Mastantuono, the 18-year-old Argentinian prodigy now at Real Madrid, has been spotted training in the F50 TUNiT ahead of the official launch, a neat passing of the torch from one Albiceleste icon to a future star.
Shop the adidas F50 TUNiT at prodirectsport.com/soccer
