Here’s how LEGO Editions built its World Cup line-up

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 currently in full swing, discover how LEGO Editions created its superstar-inspired line-up of football-based sets and minifigures.

LEGO Editions launched a selection of football builds earlier this year that focused on some of the most iconic players on the planet, including Mbappé, Messi, Ronaldo and Vini Jr. Those models and minifigures were the result of two years’ worth of product development and proved to be a dream role for one particular LEGO lead product designer.

Luka Grkovic grew up in Croatia, had been a lifelong fan of the beautiful game, idolised AC Milan’s Luka Modric, and joined the Danish company in 2024, making him the perfect fit for the LEGO Editions builds that were released ahead of this year’s FIFA World Cup tournament.

“We knew football was a big passion for the targeted audience, which is teens and (children aged) 10-plus,” Luka explained in an interview with The Atlantic. “It was the perfect time to join because I was working on a lot of concepts initially doing a lot of different models.

“I did the first concepts for the buildable Cristiano Ronaldo figure, and then a lot of different vignettes and different styles. It was a lot of exploration for the first three to four months. And then we figured out this is what we’re going to do and started working on the products.”

Image: The Atlantic

That design process involved a 16-person LEGO Editions team working closely with Kylian Mbappé, Messi, Ronaldo and Vini Jr. to create the sets over a two-year period, with each player ultimately having sign-off on their minifigure’s faces and even which colour football boots they'd wear.

“In teams, we share the designs and we get different opinions from different people,” Luka added. “For the football test, we assembled a group of designers who are just very passionate about football and brought them together, especially for the plaques we designed.”

Image: The Atlantic

The result would be LEGO Editions sets such as 43013 Kylian Mbappé – Football Highlights, 43016 Cristiano Ronaldo – Football Legend, 43018 Lionel Messi – Celebration and 43027 Vini Jr. – Football Highlights, all of which contain multiple nods to each players’ impressive sporting career to date.

The true test though would be to present the models to the football superstars themselves, with final approval on the finished LEGO Editions builds required from each of the players.

Image: The Atlantic

“We definitely worked a lot with them, they had input along the whole process,” Luka said. “For example, the hair piece, that was us showing him (Ronaldo) the options and him picking the one he liked the most. And details that are relevant to him, like the minifigure, they all had a bit of input on that. We made all the choices that they were also happy with.

“He was quite observant looking at the products and when I said this is how many career trophies you have won, he was like, ‘Oh, yeah, you know!’ He was happy that we got all the details right.”

Image: The Atlantic

The LEGO Editions sets launched in March 2026 with a promotional campaign that included all four players, even though they were never actually together in the same room, with Ronaldo himself praising the collaborative team effort.

“It was fun and competitive as you’d expect from fellow athletes,” commented Ronaldo. “I think the outcome was great and we also had much fun doing it. After all, we should all keep that kid spirit that takes us through the game and through life in the same winning way.

“My kids are really into LEGO building so they were very excited to see me as a LEGO minifigure, they can finally play with me in their LEGO world. This is what makes it special, connecting football and family and a bit of imagination.”

LEGO Editions 2026 sets

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