Al-Nassr were defeated 5-0 by Celta Vigo on Monday night, which was not the best preseason start for Cristiano Ronaldo. The -eagle eyed- fans also noticed that he may have ‘breached’ his lucrative contract with Nike.
Over the course of two decades, Ronaldo has played with 70 different pairs of Nike boots as part of his representation of the global sportswear brand. Due to the superstar forward’s Adidas shin guards, which were obviously hidden by his socks but appeared to have the iconic Adidas three stripes logo visible, fans speculated online that he may have been in violation of his manufacturer contract.
Indeed, the picture has done the rounds on social media and has led to speculation regarding his deal with Nike – and whether he has ‘breached’ his agreement. Having said that, Ronaldo’s commitment to the company cannot be questioned.
Ronaldo has long been tied to the Nike brand having signed a sponsorship deal with the clothing brand in 2003. That was all the way back when the forward first signed for United from Portuguese club Sporting CP.
Since then, the Portuguese star’s brand has skyrocketed along with his personal success on the pitch, making him one of the recognised athletes in the world. The deal is considered a lifetime agreement which has a reported worth of over £780million.
Ronaldo became just the third athlete in the company’s history to be awarded a lifetime contract in 2016 and he has become synonymous with the American manufacturer, appearing in countless adverts as his career has developed.