Ahead of this summer's Women's Euro 2025 tournament, Pepsi has just dropped an all-new global campaign — Refresh the Game — and it’s a masterclass in time travel, football fantasy, and fizzy legacy.
Known for redefining the football-advertising game over the past 50 years, Pepsi has returned with an epic, intergenerational celebration that collides nostalgic flair with modern greatness. But in true Pepsi fashion, Refresh the Game isn’t just an ad — it’s a statement. Bringing together the likes of Pelé, Ronaldinho, David Beckham, and a host of modern-day megastars including Alexia Putellas, Lauren James, Caroline Graham Hansen, Farah Jefry and Leah Williamson, the campaign is a cinematic nod to Pepsi’s most iconic football moments — while boldly signalling that the future is female, fast, and fearless.
The campaign kicks off with a press conference scene starring Putellas, James, Graham Hansen and Jefry — before the screen explodes into a reimagined time capsule of Pepsi’s legendary football films. From the sands of Brazil to the standoff of the Wild West, this is more than just nostalgia — it’s a remix of football folklore with a modern pulse.
In a surreal meeting of minds and eras, Putellas links up with Pelé on the pitch — paying homage to Pepsi’s 1974 Join the Pepsi Generation spot. A deft pass from the King himself, and Putellas answers with a rainbow flick that drops jaws and resets timelines. "To be ‘playing’ with the legendary Pelé, even in a fictional game, is an opportunity I never thought possible," Putellas reflects. “His legacy continues today.”
It only gets better. Cue the surf scene — a reimagining of the 2005 Surfers film — where Ronaldinho and Caroline Graham Hansen trade impossible passes mid-wave. The camera pans, Leah Williamson arrives with a thunderous volley, and the beach erupts. This isn’t just Pepsi fantasy — it’s a fever dream of flair. "Graham Hansen steals the show,” Ronaldinho says with a smile. “The message is clear: dream big, work hard, inspire.”
Fast-forward again. David Beckham stands in a dusty saloon — the same wild west setting from 2003. Before the bottle hits his hand, Lauren James intercepts and takes the scene outside for a cheeky nutmeg with Jefry. The exchange is pure swagger. "As a lifelong fan, being in a Pepsi campaign with icons past and present is a dream,” James says.
Jefry adds: “Everyone grew up watching these ads — now I’m in one. In the Wild West. Nutmegging legends.”
At the heart of this celebration is a powerful purpose: women’s football. With stars like Putellas, James, Graham Hansen, Jefry and Williamson, Pepsi is not just recognising today’s elite — it’s investing in the game’s next chapter. From Signe Bruun to Stina Blackstenius, Jéssica Silva to Riola Xhemaili, Pepsi is spotlighting rising stars across Europe through in-market cameos and real-world support.
As Cathy Graham Kidd, Pepsi’s Senior Marketing Director, puts it: “Pepsi has always been about refreshing and reinventing the status quo. With this campaign, we're doing just that — bringing the raw joy of football to new audiences and new heights.”
And this isn’t lip service. Pepsi’s partnership with UEFA Women’s Football has been extended to 2030 — an industry-first pledge, signalling a seismic shift in the sport's trajectory. The past 50 years have been iconic. The next 50? They’re going to be electric.
Pepsi fans worldwide can follow Pepsi channels to see the film and more from the players as the campaign unfolds: X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook.
