Why are Messi, Ronaldo and Mbappe wearing special patches on their World Cup kits?

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Tom Weber | Writer

Multilingual sports writer who specialises in European football and American soccer.

Argentina legend Lionel Messi and France captain Kylian Mbappe were seen sporting unique patches on their World Cup jerseys on Tuesday.

Both superstars put in sparkling performances for their respective countries, with Messi scoring a sensational hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria, while Mbappe notched a brace in a 3-1 triumph over Senegal.

Eagled-eyed supporters may have noticed that both players had an extra patch below the 2026 World Cup logo on their right sleeve. However, Messi and Mbappe were not the first players with special badges at this tournament, nor will they be the last.

Portugal icon Cristiano Ronaldo will also suit up with an additional patch today, while Spain wonderkid Lamine Yamal already showed off his when he was substituted on in La Roja's shocking scoreless draw with minnows Cape Verde.

Other players like Scotland captain Andy Robertson, Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Croatia's midfield maestro Luka Modric have also been given special patches.

What are FIFA's special World Cup patches?

Many casual viewers may not even have noticed these special badges because they are incredibly innocuous and there has been next to no official commentary on them from FIFA or broadcasters.

We knew heading into the tournament that every player competing at their first World Cup this summer would be given a debutant patch. This quickly sparked outrage when it emerged that this was done so that these match-worn patches could then be removed from the kit and put on exclusive Topps trading cards to make them more valuable.

Curiously, though, FIFA's official trading cards partner is currently Panini. The governing body's deal with Topps only takes effect in 2031, meaning that it will take another five years for cards with these special patches to become available - further increasing their value.

It has since been revealed that these special patches are quite literally just stickers. They are not sewn into or printed on the kits and could easily come off during matches. Images of some patches hanging onto their jersey for dear life have already made the rounds on social media.

Now that the tournament is in full swing, people have noticed that there are many different, unannounced patches that are worn by some players. This is to recognise their special achievements at previous World Cups.

Every player who has featured in at least five World Cups is given a "Legacy" patch, which is what Messi was wearing in Argentina's win over Algeria. The 38-year-old as well as Ronaldo and Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa have become the first players to be part of a record six World Cups.

The aforementioned Modric, Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Japan full-back Yuto Nagatomo are currently participating in their fifth World Cup and are therefore also eligible to wear a "Legacy" patch.

Mbappe, on the other hand, was wearing a "Golden Boot" badge, given to players who finished as the top scorer at a previous World Cup. This means that England and Colombia captains Harry Kane and James Rodriguez will sport the same patch when they play later today. Mbappe won the Golden Boot in Qatar in 2022, Kane in Russia in 2018 and Rodriguez in Brazil in 2014.

Goalkeepers who previously won the Golden Glove (Neuer, Courtois and Argentina's Emi Martinez) are also given a special patch, as are players who won the Golden Ball, handed out to the tournament's best player.

Indeed, Messi, who won the Golden Ball in 2022 and 2014, actually wore two patches on his kit against Algeria, but the Golden Ball one on his left sleeve was covered by the captain's armband.

It will be the same for Modric, the 2018 Golden Ball winner, when he takes the field against England.