Could adidas create custom star gloves for Yildiz? A celebration that could turn into a brand

You’ve probably come across a photo circulating on social media in recent days, created by Turkish designer Orhan Topaç, featuring Kenan Yildiz. The Juventus forward is captured performing what has now become his signature celebration, shaping a star with his hands. The striking detail? Yildiz isn’t wearing the standard adidas gloves provided to Juventus players, but a custom-made pair designed to form a star themselves.

Yildiz Mask, what does it mean?

This celebration has already been dubbed the Yildiz Mask, following in the footsteps of the Dybala Mask and the Gyokeres Mask. Its meaning lies in the player’s own surname: Yildiz means “star” in Turkish. A simple gesture that has quickly evolved into a trademark, reinforcing how footballers meticulously craft every aspect of their image — now more aware than ever of the commercial impact their celebrations can have. These images travel worldwide, often becoming the foundation of a personal brand, as seen with Cole Palmer and his registered Cold Palmer trademark.

Yildiz is the face of the adidas x Moon Boot collection

So could adidas take advantage of this momentum by producing custom gloves for Yildiz? After all, the Turkish star is sponsored by the German brand and was recently selected for the new three stripes collection in collaboration with Moon Boot, echoing the looks seen during Juventus’s Champions League away match against Bodø/Glimt. He would be the perfect ambassador for a limited-edition glove line made specifically for him — potentially the first footballer to launch a personalized glove collection. In doing so, adidas could pioneer a new market segment, turning gloves from a purely functional tool into a fashion statement and a vehicle for self-expression.

Could adidas create custom gloves for Yildiz?

Looking at the bigger picture, the aesthetic of footballers who regularly wear gloves remains one of the few unexplored avenues for brands to turn into a fashion trend. For now, gloves are still worn primarily for practical reasons — because it’s cold. Players who became iconic for wearing gloves often did so due to the visual contrast of pairing them with short-sleeved shirts. Names that come to mind include Diego Costa, Mario Mandzukic, Paul Pogba, Sergio Aguero, Rodrigo De Paul, and Riyad Mahrez. adidas now has a major opportunity to shift the narrative, transforming gloves into a central element of footballers’ visual identity and moving beyond the idea of gloves as a minor, purely functional accessory.