HERZOGENAURACH (dpa-AFX) - Unlike the German national team, soccer world champion Argentina and superstar Lionel Messi will continue to play in Adidas clothing in the future. As the sporting goods manufacturer from Herzogenaurach in Franconia announced on Wednesday, the outfitter contract with the Argentine Football Association (Afa) has been extended until 2038. The collaboration has been running since 2001 and covers not only the men's team, but also the women's national team and junior teams. "It's a perfect partnership," said Adidas CEO Bjorn Gulden.

The German Football Association (DFB) announced in March that it would be switching from its long-standing supplier Adidas to its US competitor Nike from 2027. The DFB had justified the switch with a financially better offer from Nike. The US company is said to be paying 100 million euros per year, far more than Adidas. "Until December 2026, we will do everything in our power to achieve joint success with our long-standing and current partner Adidas, to whom German soccer has owed a great deal for more than seven decades," said DFB President Bernd Neuendorf.

Eintracht Frankfurt changes

Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt, on the other hand, recently took the opposite approach. From July 1, 2025, Adidas will replace the previous sponsor Nike. No details were given about the amount of the sponsorship, but according to the media, Eintracht will receive 25 million euros for the five-year contract - i.e. five million euros per year. With Nike, it is said to have been four million euros in the event of success./mkl/DP/jha