We’re always on the lookout for new Lego sets, and the Danish brick company has obliged with not one, but eight new sets to celebrate the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Whether it’s paying tribute to the trophy itself, or some of the best to ever do it (and Vinicius Jr), there’s something for everyone. Even if your budget is decidedly lacking.
Three of the eight are dedicated directly to Lionel Messi — hero of the last World Cup that saw Argentina wipe France off the board. Not all of the sets have turned up locally yet, but we shouldn’t be waiting too long. South Africa’s Lego distributor doesn’t typically stray too far from the dollar value, so that’s a win.
Messi’s feeling bricked up
Three of those attributed to the king of football are the Lego Editions Lionel Messi – Soccer Highlights, Soccer Legend, and Celebration, available for R600, R1,600, and $200 (∼R3,300), respectively. The first of those is a simple collection of football-related things with a minifig, set atop a shrine dedicated to the man himself.
If you’re looking to actually build Messi, you’ll need to open that wallet a bit further. The 958-piece Soccer Legend set sees buyers build a Bionicle-looking Messi, with his name and number right behind him. The R3,000+ Celebration set looks like a picture in brick form, meant to hang on your wall just like a poster would. It’s got fewer pieces than you might expect — 1,427 — seeing as it isn’t a usual 3D set.
And then there’s Cristiano Ronaldo… the second-best to ever do it. He’s only got two sets to choose from, though, offering the same Highlights and Soccer Legend sets as Messi. We admit these look a smidge cooler than the Argentinian counterpart, simply because Ronaldo strikes a more photogenic pose. Even Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. are being celebrated, though only via the cheaper ‘Highlights’ sets made for, uh, superfans.
Of course, those Soccer legend sets aren’t locked into the pose on display. If you aren’t impressed with the default look, they can be readjusted to better suit whatever vibe your shelf is going for. Again, Ronaldo’s set comes out on top, with the footballer being thrust into an epic-looking bicycle kick. You be the judge:
And now for the rest
While not technically new, there are three more sets paying tribute to the FIFA World Cup. One of those is a 1,498-piece replica of the football in play, setting your wallet back by R2,400. Next up, there’s an even larger model of the World Cup trophy, consisting of 2,842 pieces at a pretty hefty R3,600. Lastly, a World Cup 2026 emblem is up for grabs at R470, its pieces lying rather flat. Just like its design.
All in all, not a good time to be the bank account of a football nerd. A couple of the sets, like the trophy or the football, are already available in South Africa. The rest that we could find locally are all up for pre-order now and should be ready on 1 May. Unless you’re the minimum age for a Lego set, there should be more than enough time to get ’em assembled. That’ll kick off on 11 June 2026.
