Adidas's Messi business, beautifully done

It’s the kind of montage we’ve seen a gazillion times before and similar efforts are currently flooding our screens – heroic soccer stars; slow-mo goals and fancy footwork; close shots of fans in the throws of ecstasy, pain, and gut-wrenching anticipation. 

But in this epic film for Adidas Football, created by The Midnight Club and gorgeously directed by bleunuit through DIVISION, it’s elevated to pure filmmaking excellence – the extraordinary music underlined by an accordion in action, exquisite lighting, artful near-monochrome photography and superb editing. 

Within the framework of dance's most dramatic form – the Tango – the film blends football, Argentine culture and the pursuit of greatness; capturing the emotion, intensity and enduring influence of one of the sport’s greatest icons.