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#5 Ian Rush
Nike was not keen on going all-in for European footballers at first. However, that changed with Liverpool legend Ian Rush in 1982.
Rush, sporting his majestic facial hair, was on the cover of the big sports magazines, which eventually paved the way for Nike’s global domination.
Rush, a Reds legend through and through, spent 15 seasons with Liverpool, scoring 346 goals in 660 appearances.
#4 Andres Iniesta
Rated as one of the best midfielders in history, Andres Iniesta was with Nike for 16 years between 2002 and 2018 before switching to Asics.
Iniesta was never a flashy footballer, which is why Nike chose him to headline the understated CTR360 Maestri.
He famously wore the CTR360 in the 2010 World Cup final where he scored the winning goal for Spain. Later, Iniesta switched to the Magista, which he headlined and launched in Barcelona in 2014.
#3 Ronaldinho
In 1996, Nike signed an earth-shattering £100m contract with the Brazilian Football Confederation, introducing the world to the famous phrase, “Joga Bonito.”
Ronaldinho, the emerging star of Brazil, quickly turned into one of Nike’s favorites. The youngster was full of finesse, tricks and goals - ideal for Nike’s youthful campaign.
Nike chose Ronaldinho for its Tiempo Legend YouTube commercial in 2005, asking him to hit the crossbar four times without the ball touching the ground. The video went viral, becoming the first YouTube video to reach one million views.
Nike has even created a signature boot with Ronaldinho - Nike Tiempo Ronaldinho R10 - making him the first footballer to get a signature product.
Nike later released Nike Tiempo Ronaldinho Dois, which paid homage to Ronaldinho’s flamboyant gameplay. The Dois has gone down as one of the most celebrated pairs of boots in the history of football.
#2 Ronaldo Nazario
Nike has sponsored many footballers over the years, but none more prolific than the great Ronaldo Nazario.
Nike was so spellbound by the genius of the Brazilian that it built the first Mercurial (1998) with Ronaldo in mind. He wore the iconic boot to guide Brazil to the 1998 World Cup final, scoring four goals.
Four years later, he returned from a potentially career-ending injury, flaunting a dazzling pair of Mercurial Vapor. His record-breaking eight goals helped Brazil win their fifth World Cup.
At the 2006 World Cup, Ronaldo sported the legendary Mercurial Vapor III, which inspired millions of footballers, including the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo
Love him or hate him, you simply cannot dispute the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo is the most accomplished player to have been sponsored by Nike.
According to CBS Sport, Ronaldo has a lifetime deal with Nike, which makes him about $20 million every year.
Cristiano Ronaldo signed with Nike way back in 2003, before making his life-altering move to Manchester United. Nike backed the young Portuguese to shatter the biggest records, and the legendary #7 has reciprocated by sticking with the company for all these years.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is going strong even at 36 and is still Nike’s most celebrated endorser.
