VERSUS

a year agoWhen you watch Rafael Leão play for the first time, it’s hard to imagine him feeling any fear at all. The way he gallops beaming around the San Siro – twisting and laughing around helpless defenders – is nothing but joyous. When he scores, which is often, he’s bashful and giddy, giggling with his teammates like he’s back on the playground in Almada. Rafael Leão is undoubtedly fearless. His, though, is a bravery based in peace. He’s not afraid because he doesn’t have to be. He believes the next chance will come and the chance after that. It’s an attitude that allows for self-expression and one that has served him well both on and off the pitch.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ The Gen-Z football superstar is multifaceted. They are hyper talented on the field, of course. Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, Linda Caicedo and Jamal Musiala spend most of their time breaking new records and new ground for young ballers on the pitch. What’s different about this generation of players is that they live full, well-rounded, varied lives away from football as well. It’s an autonomy outside of football that hasn’t been present in the game since before Wenger’s professionalism revolution. Leão, being the fearless type, has set his sights on conquering one of the biggest prizes of all: the world of fashion.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ “I’m not afraid”, he says, “I think I have the personality for it… and the image.”⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ As the Milanese superstar makes his way around set, signing shirts and taking selfies with the crew, the thing most striking is the calm he exudes. He’s a young man, both in football and in life, but has the self-assuredness of someone much older. It’s an inner belief that allows him to move elegantly through whichever world he chooses. He doesn’t need to worry. He doesn’t need to be fearful. He’s Rafael Leão.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ Photography: @elliothensford⁣⁣⁣ Photography Assistant: @fingleeson⁣⁣⁣ Directed by: @tj.saw1⁣⁣⁣ Lighting/Digi: @barneyarthurphoto⁣⁣⁣ Styling: @aureliemasonperez⁣⁣⁣ Set Design: @skyehalsey⁣⁣⁣ Set Design Assistant: Leone Marigo⁣⁣⁣ Creative Direction: @morganallann, @elliothensford⁣⁣⁣ Creative Production: @tj.saw1⁣⁣⁣ Production: @amiloucri⁣⁣⁣ Retouching: @arrwsmth⁣⁣⁣ Wearing: #bottegaveneta

2 years agoWe gifted Bukayo Saka the first-ever IRL VERSUS caption ✨ never to be seen by the public 🤫

a year agoWhen you watch Rafael Leão play for the first time, it’s hard to imagine him feeling any fear at all. The way he gallops beaming around the San Siro – twisting and laughing around helpless defenders – is nothing but joyous. When he scores, which is often, he’s bashful and giddy, giggling with his teammates like he’s back on the playground in Almada. Rafael Leão is undoubtedly fearless. His, though, is a bravery based in peace. He’s not afraid because he doesn’t have to be. He believes the next chance will come and the chance after that. It’s an attitude that allows for self-expression and one that has served him well both on and off the pitch.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ The Gen-Z football superstar is multifaceted. They are hyper talented on the field, of course. Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, Linda Caicedo and Jamal Musiala spend most of their time breaking new records and new ground for young ballers on the pitch. What’s different about this generation of players is that they live full, well-rounded, varied lives away from football as well. It’s an autonomy outside of football that hasn’t been present in the game since before Wenger’s professionalism revolution. Leão, being the fearless type, has set his sights on conquering one of the biggest prizes of all: the world of fashion.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ “I’m not afraid”, he says, “I think I have the personality for it… and the image.”⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ As the Milanese superstar makes his way around set, signing shirts and taking selfies with the crew, the thing most striking is the calm he exudes. He’s a young man, both in football and in life, but has the self-assuredness of someone much older. It’s an inner belief that allows him to move elegantly through whichever world he chooses. He doesn’t need to worry. He doesn’t need to be fearful. He’s Rafael Leão.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ Photography: @elliothensford⁣⁣⁣ Photography Assistant: @fingleeson⁣⁣⁣ Directed by: @tj.saw1⁣⁣⁣ Lighting/Digi: @barneyarthurphoto⁣⁣⁣ Styling: @aureliemasonperez⁣⁣⁣ Set Design: @skyehalsey⁣⁣⁣ Set Design Assistant: Leone Marigo⁣⁣⁣ Creative Direction: @morganallann, @elliothensford⁣⁣⁣ Creative Production: @tj.saw1⁣⁣⁣ Production: @amiloucri⁣⁣⁣ Retouching: @arrwsmth⁣⁣⁣ Wearing: #bottegaveneta

2 years agoWe gifted Bukayo Saka the first-ever IRL VERSUS caption ✨ never to be seen by the public 🤫

2 months agoRodrigo Hernández Cascante. They said it couldn’t be done. A defensive midfielder was never supposed to shine like this. But Rodri has just collected the Ballon d’Or on his doubters’ headtops. Might be out with an ACL but Accolades Can’t Lie. This baller right here has been top of his class. The heartbeat in Manchester City’s fourth league title on the bounce. The keystone who locked off the midfield during Spain’s Euro 2024-winning campaign. Instrumental for club and country the way he keeps producing classics. A complete midfielder in every sense. 12G + 15A for a player in his position is unreal. But this is deeper than the numbers. It’s about impact. For years, defensive midfielders have gone unrecognised on nights like this. The glory usually goes to the attackers. But Rodri is a DM you can’t air. Haters will call this ‘utter woke nonsense’. Real ones know that’s just because a left winger didn’t win it instead. It’s about time the streets got on Rod’s Wave because his Heart ain’t the only thing that’s been On Ice. This is the most cold-blooded baller on the scene. It takes a special kind of MF to steal the show from the forwards. But Rodri is here to remind us that a new age has arrived. Goals win games. But sometimes it takes the right DM to send a message. Football purists, stand up and salute.