All the attention of the majority of fans was focused on Lionel Messi when the Argentine star and Inter Miami had a 1-1 draw against Newell’s Old Boys, Messi’s starting team. Not only the result of winning or losing, the star who won the Golden Ball 8 times also attracted attention when receiving a very special gift before the friendly match with Newell’s Old Boys.
According to Clarin newspaper, the very special gift that Messi received was a pair of sports shoes with a design detailing his football career and family life. The designer Stepwise himself is the author of this gift. “A dream come true. I never imagined that my job would give me the opportunity to design and hand deliver a pair of sneakers for the GOAT (Greatest Player of All Time),” Stepwise wrote on their Instagram account. In the post, which ended with the sentence “Hang in there, champ!”, Stepwise also explained that the shoes were 100% hand-painted.
The sneakers called “What the Messi” are limited edition and are currently sold out for $1,800/pair. Creating each pair of shoes takes 2 to 5 months. “They can be worn normally like other shoes, but they are hand-painted and not intended for everyday use. Be careful and you will be able to use them for many years,” Stepwise added.
Another highlight is that the shoes also recreate Messi’s career through the colors of the different jerseys he has worn: Newell’s Old Boys, Barcelona, PSG, Inter Miami and Argentina national team.