Pepsi Max Signs Up Vini Jr for Football-Inspired Collection

Remember the Pepsi football adverts of the early Noughties? Of course you do. How could anyone forget the bona fide legends cosplaying as Wild West bandits and knights of the realm – only with unbelievable tekkers. Hell, at one point, they even had a horse playing sudden death with the Man U and Real Madrid teams.

These Pepsi films were, in the most literal sense, iconic, and are an unforgettable part of modern football history. The carbonated soft drink brand even released its own team strip in 2002, a holy grail of retro kits to this day.

20 years on, Pepsi Max is celebrating this legacy with one of its biggest team-ups yet, collaborating with its new ambassador, Real Madrid’s Vini Jr, and cult brand Art of Football to launch a limited capsule line.

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Pepsi x [AOF] - Football Shirt

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Credit: Pepsi Max

Pepsi x [AOF] - Tote Bag

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Credit: Pepsi Max

Pepsi x [AOF] - Bum Bag

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Credit: Pepsi Max

Pepsi x [AOF] - Bucket Hat

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Credit: Pepsi Max

The star of the Pepsi x AOF collection is a reimagining of that legendary 2002 Pepsi jersey. The new version made its debut in Pepsi Max’s latest epic football film, Nutmeg Royale, which stars a legion of legendary players, and is guaranteed to be one of the most coveted drops of the upcoming season.

There’s also a bucket hat, shoulder bag and tote, all with the same blue-on-blue motif and vintage Pepsi logo, which contribute to a heady shot of Y2K style that’s anything but cliché.

Coinciding with the collection is the announcement of Pepsi Max’s big new signing: Vini Jr.

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The 22 year old is one of football’s most exciting new talents — hailed the “best player in the world” last season by Brazilian teammate Neymar, he scored the winning goal in Real Madrid’s 2022 UEFA Champions League Final win and was named Young Player of the Season for the tournament.

Away from the pitch, he’s been applauded for his bravery in standing up to racism, and for his charitable work, funding education initiatives in his hometown of Rio de Janeiro.

“I want to represent a generation who aren’t afraid to express themselves and strive for greatness — in fashion, football or wherever you leave your mark,” Vini said.

“I remember watching Pepsi commercials starring some of my biggest football idols growing up. Now, here I am today, working with Pepsi to bring this amazing fashion collection to life.”

For the capsule collection, Pepsi gave Art of Football licence to reimagine and expand its legendary 2002 strip, made famous by Raúl, Roberto Carlos, and even like pretty much everything else around the turn of the millennium, Britney Spears. But rather than rehashing the past, the kit has been reimagined for a new era through contemporary streetwear styling.

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The British brand has its own diehard following, with designs that tap into classic football iconography and terrace culture, while championing football as community over commodity. The collab forms a key part of Pepsi Max’s “Thirsty For More” campaign, which celebrates a desire for the unexpected and combines the worlds of sport, fashion and culture.

Gustavo Reyna, Pepsi’s senior director of global marketing, also stressed the importance of the collaboration: “We are delighted to be welcoming Vini Jr to the Pepsi squad.

“As one of the most exciting names in football, he represents the new generation of talent who have a thirst for fun. Pepsi has a long history of partnering with the best talents, and Vini Jr’s obvious passion for everything he does, alongside his love of fashion and sport, made him the perfect individual to be our new football ambassador.

“We were keen to announce the new partnership in line with the launch of the Art of Football collection, to bring life into this intersection of passion points, and celebrate our history in football entertainment.”