The world’s richest luxury fashion brand becomes the unlikely bridge between two of soccer’s most high-profile rivals. Perhaps it's the impeccable fashion offerings or just simply the chance to go head-on with one another; Louis Vuitton somehow convinced Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to star together in its latest advertising campaign.
Released just ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 kickoff, the two athletes– Messi in black slacks and a sweater, Ronaldo in a black turtleneck and jeans– are seen dressed in all-black and immersed in a game of chess. The two use a Louis Vuitton’s checker-patterned Damier travel trunk as a chessboard. The image was shot by a prolific portrait and fashion photographer, Annie Leibovitz, who has captured images of the likes of the late Queen Elizabeth II, John Lennon and Muhammad Ali.
This photo also signals Louis Vuitton’s continues efforts to plant a strong foothold in the athleisure wear segment. The fashion brand has launched crossover collections with the NBA and made trophy cases for several sporting championships, including the FIFA World Cup.
Louis Vuitton and FIFA’s relationship dates back to 2010 when the fashion house created its first trophy case for the tournament hosted in South Africa. The French fashion house created a five-piece leather goods capsule collection to mark this year’s games.
This also marks the first time the two can agree on their fashion choices. Ronaldo has been with Nike since 2003 and signed a lifetime contract in 2016, while Messi ended his sponsorship deal with Nike to join Adidas in 2006.
Now is as good a time as any to bring these two giants together. It’s likely the last chance at winning the FIFA title, which has escaped both of them during their illustrious careers. If both their teams perform well, there’s a chance we could see a Portugal vs Argentina World Cup face-off in Qatar.
Also see: How much is the FIFA World Cup Trophy actually worth?