My first collaboration with Adidas

Behind the Lens: Photographing the Real Madrid vs Juventus Match for Adidas and the UEFA Champions League

Working as the official photographer for Adidas and the UEFA Champions League was one of those moments that reminded me exactly why I love what I do. The recent Real Madrid vs Juventus match, with a win for Real Madrid and a decisive goal by Jude Bellingham, turned out to be an unforgettable experience both professionally and personally.

My main goal that night was to capture Jude’s new Adidas boots in action. It sounds simple, but in football photography, nothing really is. Every second counts. You have to anticipate, react, and stay completely focused, ready to capture the story behind every play.

I went in with a clear plan. I used a Sony 200–600mm lens for close-up shots and details, especially when Jude was on the ball, and a 70–200mm lens for wider shots, goal celebrations, and the overall atmosphere of the match. That combination gave me the flexibility to move between intimacy and scale — from the smallest detail to the full intensity of the game.

I won’t lie, I was nervous at first. Shooting for two giants like Adidas and UEFA comes with pressure. You know every shot has to meet a high standard. But once the match started, all the nerves disappeared. The adrenaline took over, and I got into that flow where it’s just you, the camera, and the game.

Then came the moment every photographer dreams of. Jude Bellingham scored, and as if perfectly scripted, he ran to celebrate right in the corner where I was standing. It was pure instinct — I lifted the camera and caught the entire celebration, from the first shout of joy to the smile and the energy of the crowd behind him. The boots were perfectly visible, the moment genuine and alive.

By the end of the night, I had captured everything the client wanted — from detailed product shots to emotional, storytelling images that reflected the spirit of both the player and the brand. But beyond that, I walked away with something personal: a sense of pride, gratitude, and excitement for being part of such a unique experience.

Having full access inside the stadium gave me a completely new perspective on what it means to document football at this level. It’s not just about taking pictures of a match — it’s about freezing emotion, movement, and history in a single frame.

That night reminded me why I chose this profession in the first place. Photography, for me, has always been about connection — with the sport, with the people, and with those unforgettable moments that only happen once.