Nike’s story of losing Messi, because she was cornered by Adidas

Lionel Messi synonymous with German sports clubs Adidas. But Messi is actually familiar with rival Adidas, Nikeat the beginning of his career.

Messi and Adidas are an inseparable part right now. Also in 2017 Adidas dared to give the Argentine footballer a life contract.

The contract is the same as David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane, who still wear Adidas products after retirement. Messi has always been an Adidas icon from season to season.

Adidas also made special shoes for Messi called the F50 that helped him score hundreds of goals and assists, as well as win dozens of trophies.

But, for you, Messi has actually been wearing Nike shoes since he first entered Barcelona academy at the age of 14. His professional debut in 2003 also used US shoes.

Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at that time became the future icons of Nike, which at that time was synonymous with Ronaldo Luis Nazario Da Lima. Adidas at that time was already famous for David Beckham and his Predator shoes.

Then, there was an incident that ended Nike and Messi’s intimacy in 2006. At that time Nike had advertised for the 2006 World Cup using Messi and Ronaldo as main stars.

According to the book Messi vs. Ronaldo: One Rivalry, Two GOATs, and the Era That Remade the World’s Game Created by Jonathan Clegg and Joshua Robinson, Messi who was about to do a photo shoot with Nike was suddenly asked to stop.

Nike apparently received a call from Messi’s rep, in this case his father Jorge, to remove all promotional material relating to his son. Because Jorge felt that Nike was not respecting one of the clauses of his contract, which was to supply Messi with more shirts.

By not accepting Messi’s arbitrary actions, Nike took the case to court in 2006, claiming to have a settlement with the player.

Unfortunately, the Spanish court found a different fact that the agreement was just a commitment, not a formal contract. There’s also the fact that Messi actually had a sneaky partnership with Adidas in February 2006, four months before breaking up with Nike.

Lionel Messi has always played at a Nike sponsored club Photo: Getty Images / Carlos Rodrigues

While synonymous with Adidas, Messi has actually strengthened Nike-sponsored teams during his club-level career, namely Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. So when there was a photo shoot for the two clubs, the Adidas Messi shoe logo was forced to close.

Lionel Messi wearing the Adidas kit only when the Argentine national team is strengthened.

(also)