Adidas kicks off its "Backyard Legends" World Cup campaign with a host of stars

England stars David Beckham and Jude Bellingham have helped kick off the star-studded adidas “Backyard Legends” World Cup campaign. With the tournament just a month away the sporting giant has released a five-minute short film fronted by actor Timothée Chalamet. The cast spans the worlds of football , music and entertainment with fellow icons of the game Messi and Zinedine Zidane joining Becks. Current superstars Bellingham, Lamine Yamal and Trinity Rodman, while rapper Bad Bunny also makes an appearance. The ad sees Chalamet organising a neighbourhood street match against a ‘local crew’ who apparently haven’t lost in 30 years. He says: “It’s not a winning streak – it’s a legend.” According to adidas, the campaign was designed to celebrate “the universal spirit of football” and the informal games that shape players long before they reach the professional stage. The company is expected to roll out further events tied to the film across host cities in the US, Canada and Mexico in the coming weeks. They say: “Set against a nostalgic soundtrack, 90s street and terrace style, analogue tech and era-defining hairstyles, the film blends cutting edge CGI and visual effects to bring to life a simple truth: the backyard is where pressure disappears and legends begin. “Because whether it’s a cage pitch, a parking lot, a patch of grass or the World Cup stage, the game belongs to those who play free.” It also features a number of cameos from soccer stars, including the 2002 versions Alessandro Del Piero, Ousmane Dembélé, Raphinha, Pedri, Florian Wirtz and Santiago Gimenez. Chalamet says: “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.” Florian Alt, Vice President Global Brand Communications at adidas said: “Everyone remembers that feeling: playing for the joy of it, no pressure, no expectations. “With Backyard Legends, we celebrate that freedom. It’s a reminder that self-belief and playfulness are the real winning mindset. As our athletes and federations take to the biggest sporting stage this summer, we know that pressure is part of sport, we hear that directly from them. “While we encourage competitiveness, our ambition is to inspire everyone, to disarm that pressure through playing free and believing, ‘You Got This’. This is important for professional and grassroots players alike; in every sport, in every part of the world . “The game isn’t defined by the stage, the crowd, or the cameras. It’s defined by those who play free, where everyone can create a legend.” The World Cup kicks off June 11 and will be played in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.