Soccer is not only the beautiful game on the pitch, but off the pitch as well. With so many nationalities and cultural influences – and, let’s face it, so much money for the star players – it’s no wonder the sport has become a fashion phenomenon. It doesn’t hurt that the footballers’ physique means that their clothes fit them extremely well. Brands have cottoned on to this, with soccer collabs all over the place. Some of the top scorers are a capsule collection by Kith and Messi for Adidas Football;  Nike x Jacquemus’ pre-match lifestyle wardrobe for Team France, and Roots’ soccer-inspired Summer League jerseys. With up to six billion viewers projected to follow every header, feint, pass and goooooaaaaal during the 2026 World Cup, it’s no wonder both the players and managers have honed their fashion sense as well as their scissor kicks. Here’s a roundup of the stylish soccer headliners you’ll be getting to know this summer during the World Cup. And while you might not be able to match their prowess on the pitch, you can draw inspiration from their style approach and up your game.

Sir David Beckham

Becks – aka Mr. Posh Spice – needs no introduction. The English sport and style icon and global soccer ambassador is still soccer’s gold standard. Beckham pioneered the modern football/fashion crossover with Savile Row tailoring mixed with tattoos and stubble, ever-changing pop-star worthy hairstyles, and grooming so impeccable he can consort with a King. With campaigns for brands like Adidas, Armani, Boss and memorably H&M underwear, Beckham’s a master study in how to evolve your style with age – having gone from flashy Y2K to understated British luxury.

Zinedine Zidane

 His name is stylish all on its own, but when matched with the player, it goes to the next level. Taking over as France’s national team coach next year, the beloved French superstar, with his smooth shaved head, dramatic eyebrows, square jaw and burning intensity, has the athletic-meets-uptown look down. His palette is as controlled as his game was, but with the odd curve ball thrown in, a white sneaker with a suit, a dark matte tie (always a double Windsor knot) and sweater vest, crisp white trousers with a formal blazer and white-soled shoes – a sartorial sporty combo, simplicity executed. As Zidane told The Sunday Times:  “I knew I wanted to win matches. So I dressed to win.”

Sir Gareth Southgate

Although he won’t be coaching England in this year’s World Cup, the former national team manager – subject of the recent BBC series Dear England – gets honourable mention for his impeccably tailored three-piece suits and understated British elegance, which helped redefine touchline dressing. Southgate’s style evolved with each international tournament. In 2018, he was seen bouncing along the sidelines wearing a Marks & Spencer navy-slim fit waistcoat over a fitted blue shirt, with a boldly striped tie, despite the 29C heat. His look created “waistcoat mania” – during the tournament, waistcoat sales at M&S doubled and before long #WaistcoatWednesday and #LuckyWaistcoat were trending on social media. For Euro 2020, he ditched the button-down in favour of softly structured unlined blazers from menswear brand Percival. But it was his “lucky” knitted polka dot tie from Percival that became a national emblem. In an article on understanding the power of fashion with GQ Magazine he said, “Whenever you put something on, you’re making some sort of a statement, aren’t you? I am conscious of that now.” His final evolution before retiring as England’s manager? A cream quarter-zip knitted polo top from M&S under a blazer for Euro 2024 – you guessed it, the “neat-knit” also became a national emblem, selling out across the UK.

Kylian Mbappé

The French football phenom, known for his blistering pace and match-winning instincts, has rightly earned the adoration of his country, which has playfully rebranded the nation’s motto as “Liberté, Égalité, Mbappé.” The French captain earned the coveted FIFA Golden Boot Award in 2022 after finishing as the tournament’s top scorer, and last year the golden boy was tapped to be the face of Jonathan Anderson’s first Dior Summer 2026 menswear collection. “Kylian Mbappé is the voice of a generation and an inspiration to many people in the world of sport and beyond,” said Anderson. It’s a fitting partnership. Dior’s refreshed blend of heritage, Gallic ease along with Anderson’s insouciance, mirrors Mbappé’s own approach to dressing: polished, controlled and quietly confident. His off-duty wardrobe reflects the same sense of composure he brings to the pitch. He often steps out in perfectly tailored neutral basics, monochromatic designer tracksuits, crisp oversized hoodies and clean bomber jackets. Stone Island is a favourite, paired with premium sneakers. For formal occasions, he shifts into immaculately cut suits – Dior, naturally – favouring modern, slim silhouettes. The result is a wardrobe that prioritizes understated sophistication over flash.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Few athletes have transformed their style as successfully as Cristiano Ronaldo. In his early years, the Portuguese star embraced the high-gloss excess of the 2000s, favouring tight shirts, embellished denim and statement belts, topped off by hair gelled into spikes. Over the past decade, however, his grooming (including a brilliant new smile) has matured alongside his wardrobe and his career, perhaps due to the influence of his fiancée and mother of his two daughters, fashionista Georgina Rodríguez. Today, Ronaldo’s look is defined by sharp tailoring, understated luxury and impeccable grooming, with a preference for slim-cut suits, monochromatic palettes and investment pieces from houses such as Dior and Gucci. His influence extends beyond what he wears: Ronaldo has built a fashion and fragrance empire through his CR7 line, which includes footwear, denim and underwear, which he models himself showing off his absurdly toned torso.

Lionel Messi

Perhaps the greatest footballer of our generation, Argentina and Inter Miami FC’s midfielder is known, due to his diminutive 5-foot-7 stature, as La Pulga Atómica (“the atomic flea”). And while he looks resplendent in Miami’s unexpected pink kit, Messi is the opposite of footballer flash. In his early years, he favoured relaxed, comfortable, athletic pieces but as his fame grew, so did his sense of style, which has evolved towards a more refined wardrobe built around impeccable tailoring and discreet luxury, favouring brands such as Hugo Boss, Dolce & Gabbana and Thom Browne (after Browne became the official tailor for FC Barcelona). Long-standing partnerships with Adidas and Louis Vuitton have cemented his status as a global style figure, and he has his own clothing and fragrance brand – The Messi Collection. Off-duty, the star wears cashmere knits, polo shirts and clean-lined sneakers. Reserved, polished and quietly confident, Messi’s approach to dressing reflects the same consistency and authenticity that have defined his career.

Jonathan David

The nation’s all-time leader in goals, this Canadian striker is so striking he has even graced the cover of Fashion magazine. On the pitch, he is particular about what he wears, even to practice. Preferring the fit of long pants but the look of shoes, he’s known for cropping his trousers to hit just below the knee. Off the pitch, he mixes high-end streetwear and independent designers, playing with soft structure and clean lines. David’s fashion sense caught the eye of Adidas, which led to a streetwear collection with cult boutique, Union Los Angeles, with all proceeds going to help young soccer players in Haiti, where his family is originally from. As he told Office magazine, “I want to be remembered as someone who helped people, I don’t think I’m fully doing it now, but I’m getting there.”

Alphonso Davies

Regarded as Canada’s greatest soccer player ever, Bayern Munich’s Roadrunner rocks a modern athlete off-duty aesthetic. Known for his explosive pace on the pitch, Davies translates that same dynamic and youthful energy into his wardrobe through haute-athletic statement pieces, bold accessories – think Chrome Hearts ski goggles and grillz – and his signature fade. But the focal point of his style are his sneakers – he has a collection of well over one hundred pairs, many of which are hyped, limited-edition shoes.

Dominik Szoboszlai

Hungarian folk hero and Liverpool FC fan-favourite, Szoboszlai just broke the internet thanks to the outfit he wore to train for the national team. The very fashion-forward look of culotte-type baggy white shorts, a to-the-waist canvas worker jacket and black block-heel loafers, anchored by a black Hermès Birkin, was polarizing, with some giving a red card to the eclectic mix and others seeing it as a major score. One thing is for sure, the player who was formerly known for his street-to-smart dressing, in understated European luxury labels such as Prada and Saint Laurent, has now entered the fashion orbit.

Jules Koundé

France’s cool and crafty right back is arguably the most fashion-forward soccer player right now. Famous for dramatic arrivals (aka the Tunnel Walk) in avant-garde outfits, he treats dressing like a creative exercise. Think cropped trousers, skirts, heeled boots, sculptural coats, bold proportions and unexpected colour or texture combinations that feel closer to editorial menswear than traditional footballer off-duty looks. He’s also become a street-style fixture during Fashion Week. Confirmation of Koundé’s ascent to style stardom came in 2024 when he was revealed as the latest muse of fashion it-boy Simon Porte Jacquemus, and starred in a campaign for the French designer’s eponymous label. What makes his style stand out is the confidence behind it – nothing feels borrowed or cautious. Whether he’s arriving for a match or appearing at a fashion event, there’s a clear sense that he understands clothes as part of identity – not just presentation – and that’s what puts him firmly in the style conversation beyond football.