Following in the footsteps of fellow countryman and inspiration Ronaldinho, Pepsi has named Real Madrid and Brazil star Vinicius Jr. as its newest global ambassador, utilizing a new collection designed in collaboration with the Art of Football [AoF] to honor the brand’s early 2000s football advertisements.

Due to more than 20 years of memorable football advertisements, Pepsi and football have a deep and sentimental association. The most recent TV ad, “Nutmeg Royale,” is a throwback to some of the brand’s most iconic TV commercials from the early 2000s, which feature international superstars like Beckham, Henry, Totti, Roberto Carlos, and of course, Ronaldinho, running through train stations, medieval battlefields, and more. It is filled with a variety of superstars, skills, and cameos.

That was twenty years ago, and Pepsi honored that time by incorporating the creative history of the Art of Football into a collection that coincidentally served as the ideal platform for introducing Vinicius Jr. as the brand’s new global ambassador.

Following up on last year’s collection with Golden Cabane, the Pepsi x [AoF] collection showcases retro-inspired items that honor Pepsi’s legendary football league, which made its debut two decades ago. Bucket hats, shoulder bags, and totes are examples of co-branded accessories in the collection. A reinvention of Pepsi’s football jerseys from the early 2000s completes the look.

Fans with keen eyes may have noticed the new shirt in the “Nutmeg Royale” commercial, which coincidentally showed the great Ronaldinho returning to the game. One of the most exciting football players in the world, Vincius Jr., will soon become the newest global brand ambassador for Pepsi, joining Lionel Messi and his countryman.