adidas has lifted the lid on the first drop from the SS26 Messi Packs, unveiling the F50 Messi ‘Aurora Radiante’, a boot that taps once again into the pastel-soaked palette of Miami Beach.
Officially dressed in "Ftwr White/Lucid Pink/Flash Aqua", the adidas F50 'Aurora Radiante' brings the sunshine‑tinted swagger you’d expect from a Messi release in 2026. But let’s be honest: you’re also likely to get that déjà vu feeling. And that’s because… well, you've seen this before, or at least something very similar, right?
Since Messi touched down in South Florida, adidas has built a mini‑universe of Miami‑coded colourways around him. First came the X Crazyfast ‘Bienvenido A Miami’ back in October 2023. Then the F50 ‘La Vida Tropical’ followed in April 2025, celebrating his evolving chapter in MLS. Both leaned heavily into Miami’s signature pastel pinks, aquas, and tropical vibrancy.
The Aurora Radiante simply keeps that story going. It doesn’t rip up the blueprint, it doesn’t introduce a new era for the F50, and it isn’t pushing design boundaries into unexplored territory. It’s just another Messi boot, crafted for one of the game’s greats, wearing the colours of his adopted footballing home. But am I wrong to want something... more?
Visually, the Aurora Radiante feels bright, brisk, and unmistakably Messi – but aesthetically speaking, is that a good place to be? This could well be a controversial opinion, but it certainly feels like Messi has had more misses than hits when it comes to his signature edition back catalogue.
Here, a white base gives the boot a clean starting point, with an aqua‑turquoise gradient sliding from forefoot to heel to evoke that classic sense of motion and speed that runs through the F50 DNA. Across the upper, three bold pink stripes take centre stage, mirrored by an oversized pink F50 mark along the lateral side. The Messi logo on the heel receives the same treatment, reinforcing the signature identity without shouting for attention.
From a storytelling perspective, though, the Aurora Radiante doesn’t shift the Messi arc forward in any dramatic way. Instead, it joins a familiar line of Miami-inspired releases that speak to the same themes, the same colours, and the same sun‑drenched aesthetic. It’s not tired, but it is expected – the football-equivalent of a sequel that knows its audience and delivers exactly what they’re used to. So am I wrong to expect more from adidas here? We are talking about the one of the greatest players of all-time. Or am I being unfair? Does this boot figuratively reflect where Messi is now, settled, consistent, assured, and established in his landscape?
Ultimately, it will perform as the F50 should, and it fits neatly into the Miami‑tinted universe that adidas continues to build around its greatest No. 10.
Is it the best-looking Messi boot ever? No. Is it the most original? Not really. Does it deliver another clean, confident, unmistakably Messi colourway? Absolutely.
Shop the adidas F50 Aurora Radiante at prodirectsport.com/soccer
