When football meets art, the result is freestyle.

When I was nervous, I’d take a ball and go out to kick it around. I knew I couldn’t change the world around me, but I could change myself. If Messi could do it, I can too. You can’t give up. You need to have a dream. And hold on to it. A penalty can’t be saved – it can only be poorly taken. And if you fail? You try again and again and again… until it finally works out. Everyone can be the best at something.

Many young boys and girls around the world long for a hero, long to be like Lionel Messi. He is their king, their untouchable idol. On their journey toward their idol, they eventually discover that the true hero lives inside themselves. This is a performance about football, about Messi, about freestyle – a form that inspires children around the globe – and about how important it is to have a hero. World freestyle football champion Daniel Pražák shares the stage with DJ and musician badfocus and dancer Dalibor Lekeš / Taro Troupe to tell a story of determination and the desire to follow your dream.

The stage version titled Vivat Messi is regularly performed in the Hybernia theatre space in Prague. A production under the same name was also created in Nairobi, Kenya, where the lead role was performed by Kenyan national freestyle football champion Austin Junior. In 2025, Vivat Messi was selected for the La Manufacture programme, which is part of one of the world’s biggest and most renowned arts events – the Festival d’Avignon.

With financial support from:
The City of Prague, Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, NextGenerationEU – Funded by the EU, National Recovery Plan. In 2024, the City of Prague supported Spitfire Company projects with a multi-year grant of 1,650,000 CZK.

With support from:
Kloden Teater, Cirqueon z.s., Rezi.Dance Komařice, The World Freestyle Football Association, KITFest

Concept:
Petr Boháč
Script, Choreography, Direction:
Miřenka Čechová, Petr Boháč
Performers:
Daniel Pražák, Dalibor Lekeš / Taro Troupe, badfocus (Prokop Korb)
Music:
badfocus (Prokop Korb)
Sound Design:
Martin Hůla
Costumes:
Petra Vlachynská

Producer:
Bezhlaví z.s.