Football players are impressing us on and off the field as players arrive for international tournaments with coveted luggage from fashion's most prestigious luxury houses. Airports, team hotels, and stadium entrances are being used to showcase the player's personal style and professional success.
Athletes are stepping out with archival designs and limited-edition collaborations to oversized travel bags off the runway. This noticeable choice from team bags to luxury bags reflects a growing awareness of fashion and cultural influence. What was once a practical item is now a status symbol, exclusivity, global appeal, and personal preferences. A luxury bag has become a part of the modern footballer's public image.The most popular footballers are in a bold 'it-bag' era, trading athletic duffels for rare, four-to-five-figure luxury bags. Travel bags and everyday carryalls designed by luxury designers have become a staple off-pitch wardrobes.
The Bigger the Better
Erling Haaland has a very public bag collection that is predominantly Hermès. He has many bags that belong to the brand's oldest, most historic equestrian travel shape, the HAC, Haut à Courroies. What has brought the most attention to Haaland's collection is the highly coveted pieces with intricate details, such as the 'Endless Road' landscape mosaic, rather than basic, neutral styles.
These footballers are taller than average, allowing XXL styles to look natural on their physique, such as the Hermès HAC bag that is 40 cm which looks very large on a woman's frame.
Understated Luxury
Jude Bellingham is a Louis Vuitton Loyalist, reflecting his appreciation for the Pharrell Eilliams era at the fashion house. He tries to keep his style between classic and modern handbags. Bellingham uses his fame to get his hands on the newest runway releases, focusing on custom-trimmed monogram keepalls and the soft, slouchy laeater. His aesthetic is clean, functional, and effortlessly high-fashion.
Pedro Neto's collection doesn't focus on a single brand, but rather on understated craftsmanship. He clearly has a preference for mixed-media heritage pieces that are structured and low-key. These bags rely on quality, rather than loud branding.
Kylian Mbappé keeps his bag collection disciplined and sharp. He collects compact, structured pouches and geometric accessories that accompany his outfits. He centers his bags around the clean, classic lines of Dior monograms. His ability to coordinate and turn understated luxury that looks to belong in a private airport terminal.
Bold Styles and Colours
Marcus Thuram treats airport arrivals as his own personal runway, displaying an envious collection of high-end bags. He's challenging traditional menswear rules as he owns several oversized, archival versions of feminine silhouettes. He adds rare, collaborative pieces to his rotation, such as the exquisite jade-green, quilted lambskin Chanel x Pharrell Williams XXL flap bag. Thuram's collection features artistic, unexpected luggage that's designed to turn heads.
The French National Team, known as 'Les Bleus', showed off a bag collection that had fans gobsmacked with the bags, incorporating national pride into their accessories.
Defender Jules Koundé carried a Louis Vuitton monogrammed duffel, followed by forward Ousmane Dembélé who sported an Hermès Haut à Courroies. Midfielder Rayan Cherki also sported the HAC handbag. Manu Koné used an orange Goyard Boeing 25 bag that perfectly matched their jerseys this year.
Ko Itakura's rotating collection stands out due to bold, vibrant colours and soft leather finishes. Like Bellingham, both prefer Pharrell Williams' Louis Vuitton collections, especially the speedy bags. The collection has an immediate visual draw. Traditional canvas and neutral colours are being replaced by soft leathers and bold hues.
Luxury Bags Have Always Been Popular
This is not a new trend where footballers carry beautiful bags on their way to the World Cup. David Beckham had a brilliant collection of Louis Vuitton travel bags. What's changed this year is bold styles with athletes choosing unconventional models. Vinícius Júnior used a colourful Chrome Hearts travel bag. A good Birkin is always appreciated by the footballers, although they haven't been pictured filled to the brim, as is accustomed to Jane Birkin.
These footballers carrying Hermes Birkins represents access. One can't just walk into a store and buy a Birkin. It requires time and patience to get the luxury bag you want.
Hopefully, this trend of luxury luggage stays after the World Cup, carrying into the off season and other professional sports. This 'it-bag' era will hopefully carry on after the 2026 World Cup since these men have never looked more confident and attractive than carrying these luxury fashion house accessories.
These athletes are not buying bags because of the price tag but for its appreciation for craftsmanship. Many professional footballers priorities travel-friendly designs over decorative items. The trend reflects a shift among male elite athletes adopting luxury travel accessories that were once dominated by women.
