Worldcup Russia 2018 Mascotization Project

russia 2018 dreamteam

Believe it or not, even when I’m an experienced mascot designer with more than 12 years on my back and a few top team sports mascots created, I have little to no control over the creative process in any commercial work, I know what works and what won’t works but client rules... as a professional mascot designer you need to handle this lack of control as this can be quite depressing.

I love football and I really admire the social influence that top football players can profess over a wide range audience. This is the reason why I decided spending some time in a personal project of mascotization for top players in Russia 2018 Worldcup.

No deadlines, no instructions, no restrictions.

russia 2018 logo
isco alarcon mascot design

Isco “Magia” Alarcon

His nickname talks by himself, this guy is pure magic, creative and very technical midfield-forward top player from Real Madrid. The hearth of Spain team. He is from my hometown, Málaga 🙂

cristiano ronaldo mascot design

Cristiano “CR7” Ronaldo

There is only 2 possible reasons for not knowing him: you don’t like football or were in a cage for the last 10 years. Maybe – not – the greatest of all time (?), certainly the most effective and career-consistent killer.

messi caricature

Lionel “La Pulga” Messi

He is fast, electric and precise, a successful career built in Barcelona over the years. In opposition to CR7 he is introvert and shy but probably the greatest player of all time – as long as you don’t care about Worldcups 😛

neymar jr caricature

Neymar Jr.

The next top star  – with permission of CR7 and La pulga- , but probably only the best among the humans. Creativity, joy and good marketing. I love his aesthetics, probably the most enjoyable to be drawn.

luis suarez caricature

Luis “El Pistolero” Suarez

As a Real Madrid fan I hate this guy, so I guess he does a good job for Barcelona 😛 Not the cleanest one though but quite effective. He is a killer, together with Messi and Neymar he uses to form the best forward in the world not because they are good individually but because they fit all together.

mohammed salah caricature

Mohammed Salah

The “Egyptian Messi” seems to be the last sensation in the football world. He did a really good season with Liverpool but fortune didn’t accompany him in the last matches, an injury deprived us of a top level Champions League.

antoine griezmann caricature

Antoine Griezmann

Not a killer, not the quickest, not the most powerful but good in all fields. Antoine is a top “allfielder” he can eventually play at any position. I follow him since he joined Real Sociedad and I still don’t understand while no top team signed him before.

sergio ramos caricature

Sergio Ramos

Captain of Real Madrid CF and Spanish national team, 1 Worldcup, 2 Eurocups, 4 Champions League… 😮 😮 😮 This guy has a very important role in all the titles his teams has won. I will remember for my whole life that goal in 95′ agains Atlético in Champions League final!

mbappe caricature

Kylian Mbappe

The next top player probably, this guy being only 19 could become the youngest European player winning a Worldcup, the second in History just after Pelé. Speed, technique and power never seen at this age, hoping to see how it develops.

paul pogba caricature

Paul Pogba

The most expensive transfer before all the PSG madness, a great player with potential but in my opinion he didn’t probe anything yet. Worldcup 2018 could be his chance to standout as the greatest midfield that he is supposed to be. Great marketing tough.

luka modric caricature

Luka Modric

In my opinion one of the 3 best midfield all the time together with Xavi Hernández and Mazinho. Smart, skilled and strong, a top player in all senses. Shame that he is getting older… Real Madrid will have a hard time to replace such a good engine.

toni kroos caricature

Toni Kroos

“Made in Germany” is synonym of reliability, there are more chances that you fall down in your bath than he fails a pass. Around 95% of successful passes on average. This guy is a precision machine.

ramadel falcao caricature

“El Tigre” Falcao

First Worldcup for “El tigre” Colombia Forward and captain. Shame the he left Spanish league, I think he got a bit lost after he quit Atlético de Madrid. I hope he plays good matches and leave a good impression, together with James and Cuadrado he can lead Colombia to the final.

harry kane caricature

Harry “Hurricane” Kane

The Hurricane, the killer, the scorer, the leader, the future 9 of Real Madrid , the captain of The Three Lions!!!… with nuuuuuumber 9… Haaaaaaarry!!!

lukaku caricature

Romelu Lukaku

1,91 cm and 94kg make this guy unstoppable once he is running, I personally didn’t know this guy that much but his Worldcup is superb, I hope Belgium pass to the final and win the Worldcup… with permission of France!

So we have…

champions les blues

Thanks for your support!!!

The World Cup is finished and so my Mascotization project. I had time to mascotize 15 of my preferred players, no time for more. Maybe next one!!! Thanks a lot of the new followers (+1500 instagramers and around 500 at Facebook) and hundred of likes and mentions!!! It was real fun and I learnt a lot. Enjoy!!!.

***Disclaimer: this is not commercial work, I did it just for fun. I have nothing to do with FIFA, sponsors or the players.

So how do I create those mascot designs?

I recorded a video where you can see the creation process of my mascots, done in Photoshop the whole process took around 2-3 hours.

Do you wanna be Professional Mascot Designer?

I have 2 masterclasses with voice over videotutorials of around 1 hour where I explain all tips and tricks about digital inking and coloring in Photoshop, quick and easy.

Sergio Ordóñez Suánez
[email protected]

Hi there, I'm webmaster, designer and digital content creator of everything you see at SOSFactory. I love sharing my limited knowledge as more experienced designers did when I was a newbie.

38 Comments
  • JHON
    Posted at 17:08h, 23 June Reply

    El TIGRE FALCAO DE LA SELECCIÓN COLOMBIA

    • sergio ordonez
      Posted at 09:03h, 24 June Reply

      Pensaba que mejor James, que es más joven y seguro tiene más recorrido.

  • Carlos Zamora
    Posted at 17:44h, 23 June Reply

    Hirving “Chucky” Lozano 22
    Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez 14
    Guillermo “Paco Memo” Ochoa 13

    • sergio ordonez
      Posted at 09:03h, 24 June Reply

      De esos el único que conozco es Chicharito, y parece que México llegará lejos, así que seguro tengo tiempo.

      • Carlos Zamora
        Posted at 14:22h, 25 June Reply

        Chucky, el joven talento pretendido por los mejores clubes de Europa
        Paco Memo la muralla del mundial, el mejor portero con más atajadas en lo que vá del evento… quien sabe hasta donde lleguen, pero lo que sí que plasmados por tí están más cerca de la inmortalidad!

  • jk
    Posted at 21:31h, 23 June Reply

    Maybe you should have a look at the Belgian team with some of the superearners of the English league in it. Lukaku at too scorer position next to Ronaldo or some of the other players like De Bruyne who dictate the tempo of the game like no other. Belgium scored a total of 8 goals in their 2 WOrld Cup games so far (3-0, 5-2) and are considered one of the outsiders for the title.

    • sergio ordonez
      Posted at 09:06h, 24 June Reply

      Yeah!, I think Belgique will make a really good World Cup finally. I only know Carrasco and Courtois, and I need a goalkeeper… so maybe is a good choice.

  • johnatan
    Posted at 23:57h, 23 June Reply

    James rodriguez o Falcao jeje. están geniales como siempre, felicitaciones.

    • sergio ordonez
      Posted at 09:07h, 24 June Reply

      De entre esos dos creo que me quedo con James!

  • alberto voga
    Posted at 15:04h, 25 June Reply

    falcaooo de colombia

    • sergio ordonez
      Posted at 07:52h, 26 June Reply

      James me servirá para algunos años aunque Falcao es mi preferido.

  • [email protected]
    Posted at 15:06h, 25 June Reply

    LIDER, LUSCASE CON KEYLOR NAVAR, LE DIRA QUE IKER CASILLA PERO NO LO TENEMSO EN EL MUNDIAL, Y ESTOY A LA ESPECTATIVA DE LA TONI CROSS., COMO SIEMPRE TODO UN CRACK EN ARTE. SALUDOS DESDE HONDURAS

    • sergio ordonez
      Posted at 07:53h, 26 June Reply

      Toni Kroos ya está en la lista, y necesitamos un portero… mi preferido es Keylor pero ya no está, así que dependerá de si algún portero despunta.

  • CARLOS QUIROZ
    Posted at 16:04h, 25 June Reply

    Javier “El Chicharito” Hernández it would be an Honor… if you draw it…

    • sergio ordonez
      Posted at 07:51h, 26 June Reply

      Yeah, I like it!

  • Carlos Valentín Rabling Pecero
    Posted at 16:11h, 25 June Reply

    Guillermo Ochoa, Javier “El Chicharito” Hernández, Hirving “El Chucky” Lozano o Rafael Márquez.

    Los 4 tienen una grande influencia en el equipo Mexicano en este momento.

    • sergio ordonez
      Posted at 07:51h, 26 June Reply

      Chicharito es el que conozco mejor de su etapa en el Madrid, Si México sigue adelante añadiré al menos un jugador 🙂

  • Carole Newton
    Posted at 19:29h, 25 June Reply

    Kevin de Bruyne please! Belgium’s main playmaker. They are favourites to win the WC too!

    Great subject for you with his carrot-coloured hair, rosy cheeks…looks like a cartoonist’s dream!
    Thank you for listening!
    Carole

    • sergio ordonez
      Posted at 07:48h, 26 June Reply

      Yes, he has a very different face features for sure, would be fun to do!

  • Titán
    Posted at 22:01h, 25 June Reply

    Falcao, que sea más joven James no importa Cristiano y ramos son más viejos y estan, Falcao debe estar por la importancia de el este es su primer mundial y tal vez el último. (Puede ser James y Falcao) no hay lio.

    • sergio ordonez
      Posted at 07:48h, 26 June Reply

      A ver si me da tiempo 😛

  • med ijja
    Posted at 09:18h, 26 June Reply

    Amrabat for the win, he is good player and a fighter he desserve a mascot from you Sergio.

    • sergio ordonez
      Posted at 09:20h, 26 June Reply

      Yes, he is a great player, and he used to play for Málaga (my hometown team) so I know him quite a lot, + he is bald (we don’t have any yet). Shame that Morrocco is out.

  • Patrick Lippe
    Posted at 09:51h, 26 June Reply

    David de Gea

  • 张洪民
    Posted at 03:46h, 27 June Reply

    Great job! 好看!鼓掌?

  • Bernard
    Posted at 14:13h, 27 June Reply

    Hello Sergio, Sorry but my Spanish is almost nonexistent so bear with me: I loved your reasoning behind these football mascots. I think every creative artist goes through this professionally. I have my whole 30+ years that’s for sure. What’s crazy about your posting this now is I just recently lightened up my schedule of professional jobs partly because of my growing number of grandchildren but mostly because in trying out my new iPad pro I fell in love all over again with my love of drawing for the EXACT same reasons as you stated!

    No Deadlines, no edits and changes that don’t make sense! I told my wife I want to retire and draw for free! Lol!

    Also, thanks so much for all your website and twitter posts and tutorials. I’m an old dog that likes to see how other professionals work and it has helped me immensely!

    Thanks,
    Bernard

    • sergio ordonez
      Posted at 16:56h, 27 June Reply

      I guess that’s is the goal of every artist, get rich, retire to draw for free!!! Thanks a bunch and keep it up! Sergio

  • Denny
    Posted at 07:48h, 28 June Reply

    Please create one for Alex Iwobi of Nigeria playing for Arsenal

  • Turki gjulam
    Posted at 12:44h, 28 June Reply

    Salem aldosari from Saudi Arabia

  • Alisson Pawilak
    Posted at 12:58h, 30 June Reply

    Very cool! Your work is amazing!

    Next player Coutinho ??

  • tre
    Posted at 17:59h, 30 June Reply

    Kylian Mbappé!!!

  • Anass Hassouni
    Posted at 07:49h, 01 July Reply

    Hi, really want to see Noureddine Amrabat … He got mentioned in the best team in group stage … The Moroccan team deserve to be in the 16 stage .. just they got a bad luck and some injustice by the referee..
    Amrabat has a interesting story in this world cup … He got a head injury in the first match … But he decided to fight back in the next match against Portugal …. And he did a good match he deserve the man of match as many of football fans tell… Thanks

  • M12
    Posted at 12:23h, 02 July Reply

    Will you do Marcelo? I think he would look great in such a character, especially with the hair! 🙂

  • Hina jahangir
    Posted at 04:53h, 17 July Reply

    Really admire your work and liked the Messi & Ronaldo mascots in all of them and the champions settings in the last.
    Regards & best wishes for future projects,
    Hina J,
    Pakistan.

  • Miguel
    Posted at 04:14h, 15 August Reply

    Muy bueno, pero me hubiera gustado que hagas algún dibujo para Perú…

    • sergio ordonez
      Posted at 08:21h, 15 August Reply

      Hola Miguel, este proyecto ya está terminado, pero volveré a hacer algún otro pronto, no olvides subscribirte al newsletter para no perdértelo. Saludos.

  • Andrew
    Posted at 23:11h, 24 June Reply

    Hi Sergio

    An Etsy shop called “DuzoArt” is selling some of your designs here as vinyl stickers. Just thought you might want to know!

    • sergio ordonez
      Posted at 14:41h, 02 July Reply

      Thanks a lot, it is reported!

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