The FIFA World Cup Final is finally here.
As Spain and Argentina prepare to battle for football’s biggest prize, millions of fans around the world will be glued to the game. We’ll be watching too, but before kickoff, we’re taking a closer look at something that’s become one of the tournament’s most unexpected storylines: the bags.
At PurseBlog, that’s nothing new. We’ve been covering athletes and their designer bags for years, from NBA tunnel walks to the NFL Super Bowl and MLB baseball. What has been different this summer is watching the rest of the world join the conversation.
Throughout the World Cup, player arrivals became fashion moments in their own right. The bags, from the oversized fashion statement to the practical duffle, weren’t just catching the attention of bag lovers; they were being discussed by sports fans, fashion publications, and social media alike. Somewhere between Louis Vuitton Keepalls, Hermès HACs, Dior duffels, and Lamine Yamal’s ever-growing designer collection, what players carried became almost as anticipated as how they played.
One of the standout stars of this World Cup, both off and on the pitch, is Spain’s young star Lamine Yamal. The Spanish phenom has quietly built one of the strongest luxury bag collections in football, making nearly every arrival another opportunity to see what he’d carry next. While the overall lineup from today’s finalists isn’t quite as packed with headline-making pieces as we’ve seen from players like Erling Haaland throughout the tournament, there are still plenty of standout bags worth a closer look.
Before the final whistle is blown on this year’s World Cup, we’re taking one last look at the designer bags carried by the players from Spain and Argentina ahead of football’s biggest match.
Spain
Argentina
I think this is nothing more than product placement and each player was approached by a different brand and paid. Half of them don’t even feel comfortable carrying the bags that they’re carrying. I’ve looked back on a few of their Instagram accounts, and they are not carrying these bags anywhere. It’s ironic that Hermes has placed so many bags and the general public has no chance to purchase one. This isn’t about advertising for sale, this is about exposure.
Stylist to professional athletes here… most of my clients love designer and none are paid to carry bags. They get access to certain unique items and develop relationships with brands, but don’t get bags as freebies. Some brands will send gifts but it’s more like cologne or champagne. Hope this helps.
Something I learned was that some professional athletes may work with stylists and personal shoppers. I can’t speak for the athletes of the World Cup (and would love to hear from people who follow them more frequently), but from what I have read there are a mix of brand ambassadors that are contracted to wear certain items and others who have their own collection built with the expertise from people in the fashion industry. Hermes is interesting because from my understanding they do not do formal sponsorships for handbags, but they do benefit from exposure when celebrity clients wear them. In general I don’t think we will ever truly know the extent of each athlete’s personal connection to a brand unless they are actively open about their sponsorships (which at that point falls under legal disclosure).
Most of the bags look like expensive gym bags or travel bags. I can see these young men liking the flex. I would think they only do this for games and not carry around like a handbag. I may be wrong🙂
Not a big fan of the Goyard brand but the duffle looks so clean and sleek.
Loewe has dressed the Spanish national team and I think he has been lucky to win the championship.
Off topic, but I found it interesting that the trophy was contained in a beautiful, customized LV case.
LVHM has been investing deeply in many sports. Nearly each weekend the F1 race trophies are also prominently presented in custom LV trunks.
F1 fan? Would love to see coverage there! :):) #golewis
Marketing marketing marketing I get it and I’m here for it! A perfect opportunity for exposure! Why not? Good for them! 👍🏻
but what is the other bag Nico Gonzalez is carrying????????????
Reverse image search is telling me it’s a Del Sur Premium Square Mate Carrier
Love it