According to information from the Daily Mail, Cristiano Ronaldo was spotted wearing Adidas shin guards during the friendly match between Al Nassr and Celta Vigo last Tuesday. This could cost him his contract with Nike, his long-time sponsor.
Cristiano Ronaldo, aged 38, had a difficult start to the summer preparation during the friendly match between Al Nassr and Celta de Vigo, resulting in a crushing 0-5 defeat. While the outcome of this match is inconsequential, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could potentially face significant consequences after the game, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The major issue lies in the equipment used by the Portuguese star during the match. Cristiano Ronaldo was spotted wearing Adidas X Pro shin guards, a competing brand to his long-time sponsor, Nike. Since his professional debut in 2003, the legendary footballer has always been associated with Nike, and in 2016, he signed a monumental £147 million 10-year contract with the American brand.
This apparent breach of contract could have disastrous consequences for the lucrative collaboration between Cristiano Ronaldo and Nike. Clauses in such partnerships are usually strict, including exclusivity commitments that prevent athletes from promoting or using competing products during the contract period.
The Swoosh brand could view this incident as a breach of trust and loyalty, jeopardizing one of the most significant sponsorship contracts in the history of sports. If Nike decides to take drastic measures, it could deprive Cristiano Ronaldo of millions of euros in earnings and potentially tarnish his brand image.
Ronaldo’s camp has not yet publicly commented on this situation, and it remains to be seen how Nike will react to this apparent contractual breach. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the future of the partnership between the football superstar and the American brand.
