Lionel “Leo” Messi has them and so does Franck Ribery. Even seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher received a pair as a gift.
What do all these big names have in common? Shin pads made by ex-Ferrari inventor Enrico Campari. Designed to protect the valuable legs of top footballers, the devices have blossomed into veritable works of art at the football World Cup in South Africa.
Campari’s shin pads are becoming ever more colourful, personalised and expensive — up to 3,000 euros (3,700 dollars) — with decorations that include leopards, hearts, nicknames, national flags, comics and even Bible passages.
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Star Argentine striker Messi has Campari-made pads in the colours of Argentina’s flag and inscribed “Leo.” Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro has azure blue pads inscribed with the names of his three children. The ones he wore during Italy’s 2006 World Cup final victory in Berlin are on display in Italy’s football museum in Coverciano.
German national football team members Marcell Jansen, Jerome Boateng, Dennis Aogo and Piotr Trochowski also have shin pads made by Campari.
Cameroon’s classy striker Eto’o had his pads, in his country’s national colours, adorned with a profession of faith: “God is my refuge.”
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A 43-year-old Italian, Campari specialises in custom-made equipment for the world’s best footballers.
“My products aim to be the Ferraris of shin pads,” Campari told DPA . A fervent Formula One fan, he worked for Ferrari from 1989 to 1993 and is now an independent supplier for the luxury Italian carmaker.
During his days at Ferrari, Campari learned how to work with modern plastics and put them to use protecting footballers’ legs.
“I naturally gave Michael Schumacher a pair of shin pads right after he joined Ferrari in 1996,” Campari said. Schumacher is an avid amateur football player.
Campari equips the entire Italian national football team as well as players from 21 teams participating in the 2010 World Cup. They include Messi’s teammate Diego Milito, Slovakia’s Marek Hamsik, Gilberto Silva of Brazil, Englishmen Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, and star French midfielder Ribery.