RUMORS: Cristiano Ronaldo Unhappy With Nike?
Jan 18, 2024, by Phan Tich Giay
- Ronaldo's Boot Choice: Cristiano Ronaldo has been training and playing in older versions of Nike Mercurial boots, instead of the latest models, which is unusual for him.
- MDS 007 Absence: Ronaldo has not worn the Nike Mercurial Dream Speed 7 boots, and the final product lacks a CR7 badge on the rear instep that was present on prototypes.
- Nike Cost Cutting: Nike plans to cut costs by $2 billion over the next 3 years, ending their partnership with Tiger Woods, which may mean changes are to come in other endorsements.
Despite being Nike's top ambassador and having signed a lifetime contract with the brand, it seems that recently, Cristiano Ronaldo has been unhappy with Nike.
Cristiano Ronaldo Trains in Old Colorway Mercurial Boots
During a recent training session with Al Nassr, Ronaldo surprised and intrigued us when he returned to wearing the Mercurial Superfly 9 'Blast' - the old colorway of the 'Blast' collection that was released one year ago (January 16, 2023).
Not only that, but from August 2023 until now, Ronaldo has only worn the Mercurial Superfly 9 'Ready' boot and not the newly released shoes (Peak Ready collection and MDS 007). This is rather strange, as in the past Ronaldo has often been the first player to wear Nike's latest boots.
The strangest thing is that Ronaldo is not wearing Nike Mercurial Dream Speed 7 boots (the MDS boot line is inspired by Ronaldo's own design). In the past, Ronaldo was often the first player to wear MDS boots when they were released by Nike.
What is possibly most strange is that prototypes of the Dream Speed 7 soccer cleats featured a special CR7 badge on the rear instep, which was removed for the final product. It is not known why it was removed. The CR7 branding is still present on the insole.
Things got even weirder when Ronaldo returned to wearing Mercurial 'Blast' boots in 2024. This makes us wonder if Ronaldo is unhappy with Nike?
Recently, Nike announced that it plans to cut more costs in the future by saving $2 billion over the next 3 years. The latest move is that Nike has announced the end of its partnership with Tiger Woods after 27 years.
Although Ronaldo currently has a lifetime contract with Nike, is he part of Nike's upcoming cost-cutting plan? No one knows for sure.
Do you think Ronaldo is unhappy with Nike or does he just like wearing white Mercurials, which is why he is wearing the Superfly 9 'Blast' again? Leave your comments below.
Oliver Baumann Slams FIFA Over World Cup Jersey Badge
Germany goalkeeper Oliver Baumann has publicly spoken out against FIFA's commercialization, pointing to a controversial practice involving temporary kit badges at the 2026 World Cup. In a recent interview with BILD, the goalkeeper criticized what German media have dubbed "Trikot Gate," shedding light on how players' match jerseys were handled for profit behind the scenes.
According to Baumann, FIFA applied special commemorative patches to player shirts before matches, labeling players with titles like "Legacy" or "Debutant." However, immediately after matches, staff entered the dressing room to peel those badges off the jerseys. Frustrated by the process, Baumann stated that players just wanted to keep their authentic kits intact rather than having them stripped.
Baumann did not play a match in the 2026 World Cup. Those badges are removed from the kits to be later part of trading cards, as part of a deal with Topps. However, it remains to be seen if badges of players who finally did not make a debut will be made into cards, or if it was just removed because of the streamlined process.
The goalkeeper appealed to governing bodies to prioritize the sport itself over endless commercial initiatives. Baumann warned that excessive commercialization, from stripped kit patches to unnecessary breaks, threatens to alienate fans and players who care about the tradition and passion of football.
Mohamed Salah Takes Number 10 Shirt at Trabzonspor
Mohamed Salah has officially completed his move to Turkish side Trabzonspor after leaving Liverpool. Following his arrival, the Egyptian superstar has been assigned the club's number 10 shirt for the 26-27 season. The Turkish club had initially prepared the number 11 jersey, the same squad number Salah wore during his iconic stint at Anfield, but the winger requested number 10 instead to match his shirt number with the Egypt national team.
To accommodate the request, Trabzonspor player Ernest Muçi, who previously held the number 10 jersey, agreed to give up the squad number out of respect for his new teammate. During his arrival flight to Turkey, Salah was seen wearing a presentation kit featuring number 61. The number 61 holds special cultural significance in Trabzon, representing the province's vehicle code and a tradition celebrated by supporters in the 61st minute of matches.
Salah has signed a two-year deal with Trabzonspor, and his official number 10 kit is now available as the club prepares for the upcoming season.
Lommel SK 26-27 Home Kit Released
Belgian Challenger Pro League club Lommel SK and Puma have officially revealed the team's new home kit for the 26-27 season. The jersey presents a rich green base adorned with thin white vertical pinstripes, complemented by a white polo collar and white sleeve cuffs. City Football Group partner Etihad Airways is featured prominently across the front in white, while the full kit is completed with white shorts and green socks.
Swansea City 26-27 Away Kit Released
Swansea City and Joma have officially unveiled the club's new away kit for the 26-27 Championship season. Paying tribute to the iconic red and blue shirt worn between 1996 and 1998, the new design brings a distinctive 1990s retro aesthetic into the modern era.
The Joma Swansea City 26-27 away jersey features bold red and blue vertical stripes trimmed with thin white pinstripe accents. A standout element is the retro-style crossover V-neck collar in red with blue and white detailing, complemented by matching sleeve cuffs. New front-of-shirt sponsor AG1 is printed in white across the chest, alongside the white Joma logo and Swansea swan crest.
Welsh identity features prominently throughout the jersey, with Abertawe printed on the upper back neck and a custom inner collar label featuring the Welsh flag alongside the club slogan Ein Hanes, Ein Dyfodol, Ein Ffordd. The new Swansea 26-27 away strip goes on sale August 7.
Two MASSIVE News Incoming
The Nike Hypervenom might be fully back, and Adidas returns as Marseille's kit maker. Full stories are in the works.
Al Wahda FC 26-27 Home and Away Kits Released
UAE Pro League club Al Wahda FC and Adidas have officially unveiled the team's new home and away kits for the 26-27 season.
The home jersey is built around the club's signature rich maroon main body, detailed with a subtle tonal checkerboard pattern across the front. Gold raglan sleeves with maroon Three Stripes create a strong contrast, finished with gold accents on the collar trim and sleeve cuffs.
The 26-27 away shirt introduces a white base paired with contrasting maroon sleeves that carry white Adidas shoulder stripes. Gold trims frame the crew collar and cuffs to maintain a cohesive look across both designs.