Messi’s Face Is Selling the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra Before Samsung Can Even Announce It

Samsung is gearing up for a massive summer hardware refresh, with its Galaxy Unpacked event in London officially scheduled for July 22, 2026. The highly anticipated showcase is expected to feature a slew of new foldables, including the brand-new Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide, the Z Flip 8, and the much-hyped flagship, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

However, if you want to buy the Ultra right now, you don't actually have to wait for Samsung's event—provided you have an extra $13,000 and an unyielding devotion to Argentine football.

In a bizarre move of preemptive marketing, the luxury brand Caviar has launched a custom, Lionel Messi-themed edition of the unreleased Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, nearly a week before Samsung officially unveils the device. Here is a look at what exactly you get for the price of a used sedan.

The "Legends" Collection: Solid Gold and Enamel

Caviar is famous (and occasionally infamous) for taking high-end smartphones and coating them in ridiculous amounts of precious metals. This Messi-themed Fold 8 Ultra is part of their new "Legends" collection, timed to coincide with the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The custom design completely replaces the Fold's standard back panel. Here is what the $13,130 entry price buys you:

• Cloisonné Enamel Portrait: The back features a large portrait of Messi rendered in the light blue and white colors of the Argentine national team jersey, created using a specialized glass-firing technique.

• 24-Karat Gold Plating: The portrait outlines, the phone's mid-frame, the jersey number '10', and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) insignia are all highlighted with 24-karat gold plating.

• World Cup Nostalgia: The design specifically features a "2022" badge, a nod to Argentina's previous World Cup victory.

If you have the cash to burn, you'll need to move fast. Caviar states that only 19 of these Messi-themed devices will be produced globally. (For the record, Caviar is also selling a Cristiano Ronaldo-themed iPhone 17 Pro Max for $11,410.)

What This Tells Us About the Z Fold 8 Ultra

Because the device hasn't been officially announced, it is unclear if Caviar is basing its design on official schematics provided by Samsung or if they are simply acting on heavily leaked CAD renders. Either way, the product listing does confirm a few key details about the upcoming flagship:

• Storage Tiers: The Messi edition is available in three sizes: 256GB ($13,130), 512GB ($13,490), and 1TB ($13,840).

• The "Ultra" Naming Convention: The listing adds further credibility to the rumor that Samsung is introducing an "Ultra" tier to its foldable lineup for the first time, distinguishing it from the rumored passport-style "Wide" version.

If you want the phone but prefer to skip the gold plating, the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is expected to start at around $2,099 when it launches next week.

For the rest of the specs—including rumors of a massive 5,000mAh battery, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, and a near-invisible crease—we will have to wait for Samsung's official word at the Unpacked event on July 22. Until then, Caviar will gladly take your pre-order.