Adidas Chooses Bellingham and Yamal to Turn Predator Vs F50 Into a Culture Moment

Adidas is using its Spring / Summer 2026 football boot drop to stage a global “choose your side” moment. It puts Lamine Yamal and Jude Bellingham at the center of a rivalry between speed-focused F50 and control-driven Predator. 

Chaos or Control: The Campaign Idea

For Spring / Summer 2026, Adidas is asking players to choose one: Team F50 with Lamine Yamal, positioned as chaos personified. Or, Team Predator with Jude Bellingham, framed as the master of control. Both boots receive striking new colour updates.

The launch film leans into that split, contrasting electrifying pace and game-breaking improvisation. It contrasts these with composed, tempo-setting midfield play. The narrative echoes a wider trend in football marketing, where brands build product choice around identity and playing style rather than purely technical specs.

Predator Elite: Tech for Total Control

The latest Predator Elite FT is positioned as the control boot. It is designed to help players execute with precision in high-pressure situations. A reimagined NANOSTRIKE+ mesh upper combines softness, lightness, and integrated grip elements. It contours to the foot to deliver an instinctive fit and optimal striking precision. The iconic FOLD-OVER TONGUE creates a clean, striking surface. Meanwhile, the STRIKEFRAME soleplate uses an updated stud configuration for improved traction and rotational agility.

The return of POWERSPINE, a lightweight full-length plate running along the sole, adds midfoot stability. This supports stronger strikes. Visually, the boot drops in a bold red forefoot with white midfoot and heel. It is finished with three stripes that echo the original Predator Precision contours. This taps into nostalgia while pushing new performance tech.

F50 Elite: Built for Speed and “Beautiful Chaos”

On the other side of the divide, the latest F50 Elite arrives in a vivid look featuring a lucid lemon heel. It fades into white across the mid and forefoot, designed to resemble a boot already in motion. The model features a FIBERTOUCH UPPER for lightweight support and targeted cushioning. Additionally, SPRINTWEB, a high-definition 3D texture, is tuned for enhanced ball control at pace.

Underfoot, a COMPRESSIONFIT TUNNEL TONGUE provides lockdown for multi-directional speed. SPRINTFRAME 360 supports acceleration and quick cuts in all directions. The F50 will be worn by Lamine Yamal. Alongside him, players such as Ousmane Dembélé, Florian Wirtz, Vicky Lopez, and Trinity Rodman will also wear it. This gives the silo visibility across La Liga, Bundesliga, NWSL, and the women’s game.

Star Power and Culture-First Storytelling

Sam Handy, GM Football at Adidas, said, “Through this campaign, we’re igniting a conversation that sits at the heart of football culture. These boots are about more than just innovation; they represent the two fundamentally opposing forces that define the modern game: raw speed and ultimate control,” and challenging players from grassroots to pro to “choose their side.” Jude Bellingham, midfielder and Adidas Predator athlete, said that  “I love having a boot that feels so connected to my game, allowing me to control the ball and dictate the play with the precision I strive for. Football for me, is all about pushing for that mastery and composure on the ball that allows you to pick the perfect moment for a defense-splitting pass. Predator supports me in finding that perfect rhythm.”

Lamine Yamal, winger and Adidas F50 athlete, said, “Football is about pushing the limits to create beautiful chaos, amidst the tactical structures and discipline of most teams. F50 allows me to embrace that chaos – giving me the assurance to be unpredictable and take risks. I want players everywhere to feel that same confidence in every moment.”

Beyond the headline duo, Predator will also appear on players including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Pedri, Alessia Russo, and Aitana Bonmatí, reinforcing the control narrative across multiple positions and leagues. For Adidas, framing this launch as a choice between “chaos” and “control” taps into both on pitch roles and off pitch identity, giving retailers a clear storytelling axis and offering consumers a way to align with their football personality as much as their position.