This June, as football’s UEFA European Championships return to France—for the third time ever and the first since 1984—all eyes are on the in-demand French-born footballer Paul Pogba, including those of famed German photographer Juergen Teller.
To capture the kinetic energy and passionate connection between athletes and their fans, adidas has commissioned Teller to travel alongside Pogba and document the football star in a mix of portrait and still-life photography in the build-up to the tournament. The result: a raw, intimate portrait of the player—one of 21st-century football’s most dynamic and exciting personalities—and a rare fusion of art, fashion, and sport.
This photography project marks the latest collaboration between Pogba and adidas, who signed the 23-year-old star player for a long-term partnership in March of 2016. At the time, Pogba was quoted as saying: “This is the first sponsor contract I’ve signed and it’s a very important decision for me. I chose adidas because we have shared passions and values. adidas has the same vibe as I do, on and off the pitch.” He also added: “I love music, dance, and fashion, but my biggest passion is football, and I needed a brand that would give me the space to express myself and explore new frontiers. In adidas, I found a partner with the same goals as me.”
Pogba’s adidas collaboration includes co-created product, beginning with his first boot: an exclusive laceless ACE 16+ PURECONTROL model in Pogba’s favorite colors of black and gold. An extremely limited number of pairs of the special boot will be produced and given exclusively to the player. The boot features a matte black upper and gold sole plate, with the iconic three stripes detailed in gold. The insole carries a special message that speaks to the heart of adidas and Pogba’s partnership: “I’m Here to Create.”
