Current FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, Barcelona team-mate Thierry Henry, Chelsea duo Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard and Liverpool talisman Fernando Torres have teamed up with Pepsi MAX to show their true colours as part of the new bodypaint campaign.
The bodypaint campaign forms part of the overall 2010 Pepsi MAX activity, which includes the latest Pepsi MAX TV commercial set to launch this summer.
The new TV commercial was filmed in Africa and highlights the talents of the 'MAX football stars'.
GALLERY: Bodypainted pictures of all five stars
"When Pepsi MAX first approached me with the idea of using bodypaint as a way to bring to life their campaign this year I thought it was brilliant idea," said Chelsea goal-machine Drogba
"In every football stadium around the world you see colour in the stands, but more so in African stadiums where fans often use bodypaint to show their support for their team.
"Putting paint on the players was a great way to show our love for the game and I think the results are amazing.”
Ahmed Abdel-Karim, UK Marketing Manager, added: “This year, we want to bring fans a campaign that not only features the best players in the world, but also presents them in a unique way that is entertaining and fun.
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"The bodypaint images bring a modern look to a very traditional means of expression and showcase each of our players’ universal passion for the game.”
Earlier this year, Pepsi MAX launched the track, ‘Oh Africa’, which was recorded by Akon, Keri Hilson, the Soweto Gospel Choir and 16 aspiring musicians from around the world.
The track will be the anthem for the new football TV commercial.
The Pepsi campaign follows English model Abbey Clancy - partner of Tottenham Hotspur and England striker Peter Crouch - heading a list of football 'WAGS' sporting bodypainted national strips ahead of this summer's World Cup finals.
Clancy, as well as Bethany Dempsey - the wife of Fulham forward Clint - appear in Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit 2010 shoot, having had a portion of their country's national shirt painted on to their skin.
Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.
