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A New Era for Adidas and David Beckham
David Beckham has been in partnership with Adidas for nearly 30 years after securing his first boot deal in 1996. Now, the sports brand has created an AI-generated version of the football legend for their new £50 million 2026 FIFA World Cup advert.
The five-minute trailer, titled Backyard Legends, was released on YouTube on Thursday and features a star-studded cast. It showcases different AI versions of David Beckham, 51, from the nineties and early noughties sporting some of his most iconic haircuts, including the mohawk.
According to reports, Beckham secured a ‘multi-million pound fee’ to join the campaign. The Daily Mail has contacted David’s representative for comment.
The cinematic advert was released ahead of the World Cup, which is set to begin on June 11.
Hollywood Star Timothee Chalamet Joins the Cast
Hollywood actor Timothee Chalamet stars as a passionate amateur manager and the film’s narrator. The plot follows a street football match between a team of young prodigies called ‘The Invincibles’ taking on global icons.
AI versions of Zinedine Zidane and Alessandro del Piero also appear in the advert alongside Beckham, who ends up getting the football stuck in a tree.
A host of world-class soccer stars also appear in the rest of the movie-style commercial; including Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit) and Florian Wirtz (Liverpool).
Lionel Messi and Bad Bunny also star in the advert.
Timothee shared his thoughts on starring in the cinematic short film:
“I used to dream of playing with these guys – you know, I was playing at Pier 40 as a kid, thinking about Beckham’s free kicks, Del Piero’s goals, and Zidane’s volleys – doing my own versions.
I love this game, so it’s unbelievable to be doing this with Adidas, captured with the best to ever do it.
I’m a traditionalist, I don’t know soccer, I know football, and I can’t wait for this summer’s World Cup.”
The Advertisements That Captivate the World
adidas Backyard Legends | The Greatest Football Story Ever Told
Where there’s a pitch, there’s a legend. Timothée Chalamet, Lionel Messi, Bad Bunny, Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal, and Trinity Rodman bring to life the greatest Football story ever told. A legend of a pitch where they play “win or go home,” and rumor has it that this one crew hasn’t lost in 30 years. #YouGotThis #adidas Visit adidas
http://www.adidas.com/yougotthis
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup
The World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It will feature an expanded format with 48 teams, making it the largest World Cup in history.
The tournament will showcase top football talent from around the globe and is expected to attract massive worldwide audiences.
