Adidas Pits Messi Against Mahomes in Playful Treadmill Face-Off

Lionel Messi and Patrick Mahomes are going head-to-head, but not in a way you'd expect. 

Sports giant Adidas just launched a new spot titled “Come On Push” that gives fans an unexpected dose of competitive spirit between the two global sports icons.

Directed by Ryan Booth and produced by Lucky Day in collaboration with Öpinionated, the ad is light, funny, and fast-paced, reminding us that greatness doesn’t rest even on cardio days.

Zach Jones, the project’s editor, called the spot “a dream come true” to work with footage of both stars.

"Finding the “little moments” — the subtle glances and hints of one upmanship — while weaving them together with a playful, mischievous energy was the most exciting part of the process," he explained. 

"I’m grateful to Ryan Booth for his stunning footage and to the team for a fantastic creative partnership."

 

 

 

 

 

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Notably, the spot harps on the momentum of the ongoing "You Got This" campaign, which launched in May of last year. 

Overall, Adidas' latest spot reinforces the campaign's message that sometimes, it’s friendly competition that keeps you going.

A Playful Rivalry

The commercial opens with Messi and Mahomes jogging on adjacent treadmills, locked in a silent battle to outpace one another.

Mahomes starts increasing the speed on his treadmill, to which Messi follows.

Each click of the speed button puts a smile on their faces, emphasizing the playfulness of their competition. 

Notably, their wives, Antonela Roccuzzo and Brittany Mahomes, make surprise appearances at the start, fueling the energy of the scene.

 

 

 

 

 

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The spot closes with the two pressing on each other's machines, before dapping each other up at the end of their session.

The ad is now streaming across Adidas' social platforms and is set to appear on other broadcast channels through the rest of 2025.

Our Take: Another Classic from Adidas?

What gives the short spot its charm is how stripped-down the setup is.

Without dialogue or dramatic stunts, the tension plays out in subtle physical cues like side-eyes, smirks, and synced-up strides.

It’s not just a moment of levity for fans of Messi and Mahomes; it’s also a showcase of Lucky Day’s creative instincts.

Known for high-profile work like Google’s “Year in Search,” the agency again demonstrates how minimalism, when paired with the right talent, can have maximum effect.

And Adidas knows its brand DNA: performance, motivation, and fun.

The athletes carrying the story with nothing more than body language showed how celebrity marketing doesn’t always need big moments.

It just needs the right ones.

Recently, Messi also starred in a spot for Michelob ULTRA, dribbling a football across hotel hallways.

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