Following in the footsteps of fellow countryman and inspiration Ronaldinho, Pepsi has announced Real Madrid and Brazil star Vinicius Jr. as its latest global ambassador. The collection, which was produced in collaboration with Art of Football [AoF], pays homage to the brand’s early 00s football advertisements.
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Due to more than 20 years of memorable football advertisements, Pepsi and football have a long and nostalgic association. The most recent TV commercial, “Nutmeg Royale,” for instance, is a throwback to some of the brand’s most iconic TV commercials from the early 2000s, when a who’s who of international superstars, including Beckham, Henry, Totti, Roberto Carlos, and of course, Ronaldinho, would wander aimlessly through train stations, medieval battlefields, and more.
That was twenty years ago, and in order to honor that time period, Pepsi enlisted the help of the artistic community at Art of Football to produce a collection that coincidentally served as the ideal platform for introducing Vinicius Jr. as the brand’s new global ambassador.
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Following last year’s collection with Golden Cabane, the Pepsi x [AoF] collection pays homage to Pepsi’s iconic 00’s football strip, which debuted 20 years ago, with its retro-inspired offers. A bucket hat, shoulder bag, and tote are examples of co-branded accessories in the collection. A reinvention of Pepsi’s early 2000s football jersey completes the look.
Astute observers might have seen the new shirt in the “Nutmeg Royale” commercial, which coincidentally saw the renowned Ronaldinho returning to the battle. One of the most dynamic football players in the world, Vincius Jr., is now joining Lionel Messi and his countryman as Pepsi’s newest international brand ambassador.
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Vini Jr. is the embodiment of what Pepsi is calling “Generation Thirsty.” He was recently named Real Madrid’s Young Player of the Season and, after an incredible UEFA Champions League tournament in which he scored the only goal in the UCL final, earning Real Madrid their 14th Champions League title. His global influence on and off the field embodies his personal style and love of design, making him the ideal partner to stand alongside Ronaldinho and Messi.
In addition to talking more about his love of fashion and playing for Brazil at the World Cup, we were able to interview Vini, who was appropriately decked out in custom clothing from the brand-new Pepsi x [AoF] collection, which includes the reimagined kit that Pepsi first made famous 20 years ago. We also got to know what his new role with the brand means to him given the footsteps he’s following.
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