Boca Raton’s Jozy Altidore had to get permission from his Major League Soccer coach to take his girlfriend to her senior prom in May.

Now the 17-year-old New York Red Bulls’ forward is featured in adidas’ “Impossible is Nothing” ad campaign that even includes promos with him alongside soccer superstar David Beckham, who has just joined MLS’ L.A. Galaxy.

How’s that for reaching the big time?

Adidas launched the multimedia campaign this year as a way to showcase more than 30 athletes worldwide and the types of challenges and struggles they’ve had to overcome to be successful in their respective sports. Among the other athletes featured are Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas, swimmer Ian Thorpe and sprinter Allyson Felix.

“People don’t know their challenges and struggles,” said Evan Wiener, adidas spokesman. “We think it resonates well with consumers who have had similar challenges they’ve had to overcome.”

The athletes accompany their stories with artwork. Jozy describes how he was too big and strong as a young soccer player to play with his peers, but instead played with older kids. “When I was five, I kicked the ball too hard. Parents were afraid I would hurt the other kids. So I had to play with the eight-year-olds,” he says. “My weapon was gone. I was scared.”

His ad says: “I’m still taking on all the big guys.”

You can watch Jozy’s and the other athletes’ stories here.

Beckham’s and Jozy’s television ads are running now since it’s MLS season.

“It’s an exciting thing for us now seeing MLS be part of a big brand campaign for adidas. The partnership with MLS, the main goal is to build soccer in the U.S., highlighting up and coming players like Jozy,” Wiener said. “We think we can start to create these icons in the league.”

Adidas also has created a MySpace page for the public to tell its own stories.