Is Zlatan Ibrahimović Sponsored by Nike?
Nov 20, 2017, by Chris
Zlatan Ibrahimovic made his long-awaited comeback in Saturday's Premier League match against Newcastle United wearing Nike Mercurial football boots. However, while this usually is a clear indicator that he also has a contract with Nike, the situation with Ibrahimovic is different as he is an a an athlete with his own sportswear brand, AZ: Sportswear. Let's try to find out if he has a contract with Nike...
Ibrahimovic had been a Nike athlete from the Euro 2004 until late 2014, when he started to wear blackout Adidas boots. However, while this was a clear indicator that his contract with Nike expired after ten years, he never switched officially to Adidas but regularly switched between different blackout boots from both Adidas and Nike.
In June 2016, Zlatan Ibrahimovic launched his own sportswear brand, AZ: Sportswear. In that time, he started to lace both in branded in Adidas and Nike soccer cleats. From October 2016 until April 2017, he only laced up in Adidas X boots, while he switched to Nike Mercurial Vapor boots on April 4 2017. He slipped into the latest colorway of the Nike Mercurial Vapor 11 boots a few days later, indicating that he has already or is close to officially signing with the Swoosh again.
Ibrahimovic's Most Likely Contract Situation - 'Boot-Only' Deal with Nike but no Nike Ambassador
We think that Zlatan Ibrahimović has a boot-only deal with Nike and also gets some money from the Swoosh, but that he is 'not an official Nike athlete'. Why?
Zlatan Ibrahimovic laced up in the latest, brand-new Nike Mercurial Vapor boots from the Fire Pack with a custom text on the boots' upper. All this is typical for players getting their boots directly from a brand and have something like a 'deal'.
However, while wearing Nike's latest boots, Ibrahimovic is not sharing any pictures of them on social and has been also not featured in any Nike advert this year. So he is not an official ambassador / Nike athlete. This is also quite logical as he has his own sportswear brand directly competing with Nike in many sportswear products except boots. So we think that he has a contract with Nike for his boots only and gets some money for wearing them, but is no official Nike athlete.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Contract Situation - Summary
- Until Euro 2004: No Boot Contract - Wears Puma for Puma-sponsored Malmö and Adidas for Adidas-sponsored Ajax
- Euro 2004 - Fall 2014: Official Nike Mercurial Athlete
- Fall 2014 - October 2016: No Boot Deal - Laces up in Adidas Adizero & Nike Mercurial
- June 2016: Launches Own Sportswear Brand - A-Z Sportswear
- October 2016 - April 2017: Adidas Boot-Only Deal But No Official Ambassador? - Laces Up in Latest Adidas X
- April 2017 - Today: Most Likely - Nike Boot-Only Deal But No Official Brand Ambassador - Laces up in Latest Nike Mercurial
Do you also think that Zlatan Ibrahimović has a Nike contract just for his boots but is no official Nike athlete (brand ambassador available for Nike campaigns)? Let us know in the comments below and check out his boot history from the start of his career until October 2016.
Nike Mercurial 26-27 'United' Pack 4 Boots Leaked - 3 New Pictures
rfboots has leaked new images of the new Nike Mercurial Superfly 11 boots, part of the United 004 collection, which will be released soon.
The boots feature a fresh light blue primary color with vibrant orange details, including a silver Swoosh with orange outlining and an orange Nike United logo on the heel.
Bristol Rovers 26-27 Third Kit Released
Bristol Rovers have officially unveiled their new 26-27 third kit, produced by Puma. The tertiary strip was already given an on-pitch debut by the squad during their recent League Two away match against Gillingham.
The Puma Bristol Rovers 26-27 third shirt introduces a stylish look with a black base and soft pink accents. A subtle tonal line pattern covers the front and back of the torso, complemented by contrasting pink inserts along the shoulders, side panels, and collar. The monochrome club crest, Puma cat branding, and front-of-shirt sponsor Pukka are all finished in the same matching pink shade.
Black shorts and black socks with pink detailing complete the new Puma Bristol Rovers 26-27 third uniform. Season ticket holders will have early access to purchase the strip at an exclusive club shop event on September 24, followed by a general in-store release on September 25 and online sales starting September 28.
Colombia's DIMAYOR Mandates Standard Helvetica Font for All Teams From 2027
Colombian football governing body DIMAYOR is set to introduce sweeping kit branding regulations starting with the 2027 Liga BetPlay season. An official circular distributed to professional clubs outlines strict new rules for shirt names, numbering, and sleeve badges. Most notably, the league will mandate Helvetica as the sole official typeface for player names and squad numbers across all participating teams, stripping clubs and kit manufacturers of the ability to use custom fonts. Big thanks to @cdfactoryco.
Beyond standardizing the typography, the regulations strictly govern visibility and colors. All names and numbers must appear either in solid black on light-colored kits or solid white on dark-colored kits, with no additional accent colors or outlines permitted. For shirts featuring stripes or graphic patterns, clubs must integrate a blank, single-tone rectangle measuring exactly 34 cm by 26 cm on the back to host the number. Player names must be positioned directly above the number with a font height between 5 cm and 7 cm, while DIMAYOR and competition sleeve badges will have designated dimensions and mandatory placement below club sponsor patches.
DIMAYOR is also putting an end to unconventional squad numbers. Players will only be allowed to wear consecutive integers from 1 up to the total number of registered squad members, outlawing high numbers such as 77, 88, or 99. The drastic move has sparked backlash among Colombian football fans and kit designers, who have criticized the choice of a standard office typeface and the loss of distinctive club identity on the pitch.
Zinedine Zidane Wears Limited-Edition Adidas "Zidane x Adidas" 30-Year Anniversary Boots in France Training
France head coach Zinedine Zidane was spotted lacing up his limited-edition Adidas Predator 26 'ZZ30' 30-Year Anniversary boots during Les Bleus' training session at Clairefontaine. Leading the squad onto the pitch ahead of their upcoming fixtures, the French maestro gave his latest signature boots an on-pitch debut in classic Zizou fashion.
Officially launched in September 2026, the boots mark three decades since Zidane first joined forces with Adidas ahead of Euro 1996. The boot features a clean Cloud White base highlighted by metallic gold detailing, accompanied by French Tricolore accents on the heel. Personal touches celebrating his iconic career are visible throughout the design, including 'ZZ30' branding, references to cities that shaped his journey, and a graphic paying tribute to his famous 2002 Champions League final volley.
Bespoke details include a classic folded tongue with the number '30', the stylized nickname 'ZI30U' on the soleplate and insole, and a graphic depiction of Zidane's legendary 2002 Champions League final volley on the heel counter.
Inter Miami Announce American Airlines as First-Ever Airline Partner
Inter Miami CF have officially announced a multi-year partnership with American Airlines, naming the carrier the club's first-ever Official Airline Partner. Under the extensive agreement, American Airlines becomes an Official Partner of Inter Miami as well as a Founding Partner of both Nu Stadium and the broader Miami Freedom Park district.
As part of the deal, the premium hospitality West Club inside the new venue will be rebranded as the American Lounge. Covering more than 14,500 square feet across the entire west stand and seating over 1,800 fans, the lounge will anchor the airline's presence on matchdays. The stadium site sits adjacent to Miami International Airport, which serves as American Airlines' third-largest hub.
The collaboration also introduces bespoke fan experiences through the carrier's AAdvantage loyalty program, offering members pitchside access for the second half of matches, away-game travel packages, and the ability to redeem miles for tickets and VIP experiences. The club will additionally host an annual American Airlines Theme Night, with the first celebration scheduled for October 14, 2026.