Pepsi pays tribute to football heritage with nostalgic global campaign

Pepsi has launched a new global campaign, "Refresh the game", that brings together football legends from across generations to celebrate the brand’s 50-year association with the sport.

At the heart of the campaign is a 60-second film that reimagines some of Pepsi’s most memorable football commercials, blending past and present moments to highlight both men’s and women’s football.

The campaign features a star-studded cast including Pelé, David Beckham, Ronaldinho, and a powerhouse lineup of women’s footballers such as Alexia Putellas, Lauren James, Caroline Graham Hansen, Farah Jefry and Leah Williamson.

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The film opens with Putellas, James, Graham Hansen and Jefry in a press conference before they are transported to famous scenes of the past. In the first scene, Putellas joins Pelé on the pitch with scenes from the 1974 film Join the Pepsi Generation. The two unite as Pelé delivers a precision pass, and Putellas effortlessly rainbow flicks the ball over the defender.

In an ode to Pepsi's 2005 Surfers film, the audience is then transported into the scene, where football legends Ronaldinho and Graham Hansen defy gravity by exchanging passes across the waves. Moments later, Williamson arrives on the beach, delivering a volley toward the legendary Pepsi cooler as Putellas grabs a can of Pepsi. 

The film then cuts to Beckham, standing in a wild west saloon, a reprise from 2003's Wild West. James intercepts a bottle of Pepsi as it slides across the counter before it reaches the former England international. James then joins Jefry outside for a nutmeg before grabbing a can of Pepsi in the present day.

As part of the campaign, regional stars including Signe Bruun and Josefine Hasbo (Denmark), Nadine Riesen and Riola Xhemaili (Switzerland), Jéssica Silva and Tatiana Pinto (Portugal), as well as Stina Blackstenius and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (Sweden), will also make cameo appearances across localised content.

According to a statement, Pepsi said the campaign is not just a tribute to its advertising history, but also a statement of intent for the future of football, particularly the women’s game. The brand has committed to supporting UEFA Women’s Football until 2030, calling it an “industry-first” long-term investment aimed at accelerating the sport’s growth.

"Our new film celebrates football legends of the past and champions the stars redefining the game today. At Pepsi we are committed to accelerating women's football, supporting those who challenge conventions to drive excitement and change. By using the power of entertainment, together, we want to bring women's football to new audiences by showcasing the raw talent and joy it brings," said Cathy Graham Kidd, senior marketing director at Pepsi. 

Commenting on her role in the film, Alexia Putellas said, "To be 'playing' with the legendary Pelé, even in a fictional game, is an opportunity I never thought possible. Growing up, Pelé was an icon on and off the pitch, and his legacy continues today. I hope this film helps ignite that kind of motivation in young athletes everywhere, showing them there is a place in football for everyone." 

In tandem, David Beckham said, "We're witnessing a new generation of sporting superstars, and it's been an honour to feature alongside them. The players in this campaign have played a pivotal role in getting women's football to where it is today." 

Its "Refresh the game" campaign follows Pepsi's new brand platform "You can't hide great taste" launched in March this year, aimed to tap into a simple, universal truth that when something tastes incredible, your face says it all. 

At the heart of the campaign is a visual cue, the "taste face", described as the split-second, involuntary expression of bliss that happens when someone experiences something truly delicious, according to a statement from PepsiCo at the time. The campaign zooms in on the split-second moment when taste turns into pure, unfiltered enjoyment, visualising flavor in a way that’s instinctive, spontaneous, and universally understood. 

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