The LEGO Group has expanded its fandom-driven portfolio with a series of Football Highlights sets that spotlight Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Cristiano Ronaldo and Vinicius Jr. Part of the LEGO Editions line, which celebrates diverse fan cultures, the new sets were co‑created with the players' management teams to ensure every detail reflects the athletes' real‑world journeys.
Senior product designer Freddy Charters, a lifelong football enthusiast, led the design for the Messi and Vinicius Jr. models. Charters, who joined LEGO as an intern while studying industrial design at Loughborough University, has since contributed to themes such as LEGO DREAMZzz and LEGO Monkie Kid, overseeing more than 20 sets before moving into a mentorship role for new interns.
A Designer's Journey
Charters' personal connection to the sport goes beyond his professional work; he has traveled to meet Messi and Vinicius Jr. in person to present the finished sets, watching the players' children react with excitement. The designs embed subtle nods to each star's career milestones, rewarding fans who recognize the deeper storytelling behind the minifigures.
Looking ahead, Charters has expressed interest in future collaborations with Premier League talents such as Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, suggesting that the partnership could broaden the series even further. His openness to new challenges underscores LEGO's commitment to merging pop‑culture enthusiasm with meticulous craftsmanship.