World Cup preparation
Woltemade as a comic hero – but with the wrong name
May 28, 2026 – 2:15 p.mReading time: 1 min.
Nick Woltemade appears as a cartoon character in Mickey Mouse magazine shortly before the World Cup. The character’s name reveals that the creators did not know his real childhood idol.
Shortly before the World Cup, Newcastle United striker Nick Woltemade was immortalized as a cartoon character in a Mickey Mouse magazine. The figure is called “Woltemessi” – although Woltemade’s childhood idol was not Messi, but Neymar.
The story in the magazine is called “Dribbling into Happiness,” as Egmont Verlagsgesellschaft announced. In a DFB video at a sponsorship meeting, Woltemade said his childhood idol “was actually always Neymar.” The figure should have been called “Wolteneymar”.
The name “Woltemessi” is primarily based on the numerous successful dribblings of the almost two meter tall offensive player. During his time at VfB Stuttgart, the 24-year-old often left several opponents standing and then scored or prepared a goal. Woltemade was quickly given the special nickname in honor of world champion Lionel Messi.
Visually, the 24-year-old also stands out outside of the comic book. Most recently, he was often compared to the young Rudi Völler because of his curly hair. When he arrived at the team headquarters in Herzogenaurach, national coach Julian Nagelsmann commented on his pants: “Hot boy.”
