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The Nike swoosh is one of the world's most instantly recognizable symbols.
Thanks to its global appeal, the American brand enjoys an evergreen status across a variety of sports internationally.
In the football arena, Nike has maintained long and fruitful associations with some of the sport's greatest stars. Global icons such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, Roberto Carlos and Luis Figo have all been poster boys for Nike at different times.
In 2021, Nike shifted its commercial focus to preserving associations with its current signees. This means they no longer roll out the red carpet for each and every emerging star, showing their ambition to sign only the very best in order to preserve a niche eliteness.
On that note, let's take a quick look at 5 most valuable Nike-sponsored footballers right now.
Note: All value stats have been obtained from Transfermarkt.com
#5 Romelu Lukaku — €100 million
28-year-old Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku is one of football and Nike's most exclusive superstar strikers.
Lukaku previously played for Manchester United, Everton and West Bromwich Albion before leaving England in search of greener pastures abroad. The Belgian is now back in England after a trophy-winning spell at Inter Milan, which convinced Chelsea to pay a club-record £97.5 million transfer fee for him.
Lukaku is also the Belgium National Football Team's all-time top scorer with 68 goals to his name. It is a record that he will surely be able to improve on, as his presence in the team is an integral part of manager Roberto Martinez's setup.
Romelu Lukaku wears the Nike Phantom GT 2 Elite DF and is currently the world's sixth most valuable player at €100.00m.
#4 Jack Grealish — €100.00m
Jack Grealish is one of the most highly rated English superstars to be sponsored by Nike. He has been associated with the American brand since his early days in the sport.
Grealish recently moved from Aston Villa to join English champions Manchester City in a deal worth £100m, a new Premier League record. The player is renowned for his unparalleled playmaking abilities, a penchant for finding space and an eye for goal.
Thanks to his remarkable displays at Villa, Grealish finally earned a transfer to a club where he can challenge for major trophies.
He is currently valued at €100.00m and wears the Nike Phantom GT Elite 2 with his socks low.
#3 Harry Kane — €120.00m
Harry Kane is another major English icon to have partnered with Nike.
The 28-year old has been one of England's most clinical and prolific strikers since his debut.
Kane has lifted the illustrious Premier League Golden Boot award with Tottehnam Hotspurs on three occasions— 2015-16, 2016-17, 2020-21. He was also the top scorer at the 2018 World Cup for the English national team.
Harry Kane's contributions for club and country have surely helped cement his status as one of the most distinguished strikers on Nike's roster.
Kane presently dons the Nike Phantom GT Elite 2 Shock Wave boots and is valued at €120.00m.
#2 Erling Haaland — €150.00m
Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland has been touted as one of football's finest wonderkids and the next big thing in the sport. He too has partnered up with Nike and is a brand ambassador for them.
Haaland, at only 21 years of age, is challenging to become the greatest goal-scorer of all time. In 69 professional appearances for Borussia Dortmund, the Norwegian has scored an astonishing 70 goals. He was also the top scorer of the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League campaign with 10 goals, leading the forward line for Dortmund.
He currently wears the Nike Mercurial Vapor 14 and is valued at €150.00m.
#1 Kylian Mbappé — €160.00m
Kylian Mbappé is currently the world's most valuable football superstar. He is also the poster boy for Nike's exclusive "Jordan" lineup of athletes.
The Frenchman is arguably the greatest wonderkid to have emerged in recent seasons and is already one of the world's finest players.
Mbappé is the winner of the 2018 World Cup and the recently concluded 2021 UEFA Nations League with the French national side. For Paris Saint-Germain, he is a three-time French Champion, three-time French Cup winner, and two-time French League Cup winner.
Mbappe is surely set to become the greatest global footballing phenomenon should he continue his fine form in front of goal for France and PSG.
He currently wears the Nike Mercurial Superfly VIII Elite and is valued at €160.00m.
