The Pelé Brand Takes the Jordan Path
May 8, 2026, by Chris
- Pelé Brand Launch: The Pelé brand, managed by NR Sports, is appearing on match kits, replacing the previous manufacturer logo, starting with Santos in April 2026.
- NR Sports Acquisition: NR Sports, owned by Neymar Jr.'s father, acquired full rights to the Pelé brand in November 2025 for approximately $18 million and has a partnership with Umbro.
- Mirassol Kit Debut: Athleta unveiled a special Mirassol jersey for the 2026 Copa Libertadores, featuring the Pelé brand logo instead of its own, highlighting Athleta's historical connection with Pelé.
In a move reminiscent of Nike's successful integration of the Jordan brand with Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil, a new sporting label dedicated to a global football icon is making its mark on the pitch. The recently launched Pelé brand has officially started appearing on match kits, completely replacing the previous manufacturer logo.
Pelé Silhouette Replaces Kit Maker Logo
Managed by NR Sports, the company responsible for the legacy of Edson Arantes do Nascimento (simply known as Pelé), the newly established Pelé brand "focuses on performance, culture, and legacy". The brand made its initial introduction to the football world in April 2026 on the Santos kit, the club where Pelé spent the vast majority of his legendary career. Now, the brand is taking another step onto the continental stage by becoming a visible special kit supplier.
NR Sports, owned by Neymar Jr.'s father, acquired full rights to the Pelé brand in November 2025 for approximately $18 million. While NR Sports does not own or manage Umbro in Brazil, they formed a strategic partnership with Umbro.
Special Santos 2026 Pele Kit
Brazilian sportswear manufacturer Athleta has unveiled a special jersey for São Paulo-based club Mirassol ahead of their historic debut in the 2026 Copa Libertadores. In a highly authentic collaboration, Athleta has opted to remove its own branding from the right side of the chest. In its place sits the Pelé brand logo, which depicts the King's immortalized "punch in the air" goal celebration. Athleta holds the unique historical distinction of being the only sports apparel brand that officially dressed Pelé throughout his entire playing career, making them the perfect partner to launch this new era.
The Mirassol 2026 Libertadores kit itself is designed with a vibrant green base complemented by golden accents on the custom ribbed collar and cuffs, echoing the classic colors of the Brazilian national team. To ensure a premium finish, both the Mirassol club crest and the new Pelé silhouette are applied in elevated 3D TPU. The kit acts as a bridge between a rising local club stepping onto the international stage and the ultimate symbol of Brazilian football greatness.
Do you think the Pelé brand can achieve the same global crossover success on football kits that the Jordan brand did? Let us know in the comments below.
Venezia and Rapid Wien Release Special Collaborative Kit
Venezia FC and SK Rapid have unveiled two special limited-edition jerseys to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the historic friendship between their supporters and clubs. The twinning, which officially traces back to January 15, 2000, was commemorated on the pitch during an international friendly at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, with both sides wearing the bespoke designs.
The collaboration includes two distinct shirts designed in close cooperation with the fan groups. The black Unione jersey features an all-over diamond jacquard pattern, complemented by Venezia's orange and green checkerboard on the right shoulder and Rapid's green and white stripes on the left. The white Unione shirt presents a split look blending green and orange accents with line illustrations of iconic architectural landmarks from both Venice and Vienna, including the Doge's Palace and St. Stephen's Cathedral. Both designs place the lion of Saint Mark and the Austrian eagle crests side by side above the date 15.01.2000.
During the friendly match on the Venetian lagoon, the hosts wore the black kit while Rapid took to the pitch in the white version, with Venezia edging a 1-0 victory. The limited-edition jerseys have been made available to supporters through Venezia's official online store and physical club shops.
Unique Jordan PSG 26-27 Third Goalkeeper Kit Leaked - Inspired by Bernard Lama
The striking new goalkeeper jersey from the upcoming Paris Saint-Germain x Jordan third collection has leaked courtesy of PSG insider @lasource75006. Scheduled to drop in the coming weeks alongside the club's 26-27 third player kit, the long-sleeve piece pays direct homage to iconic former Paris Saint-Germain shot-stopper Bernard Lama.
The Jordan PSG 26-27 third goalkeeper shirt draws inspiration from the distinctive Nike template worn by Lama during the 1997-98 season. It features a vibrant red base with sharp black vertical stripes tapering upward from the lower hem. The long sleeves are adorned with dynamic graphic streaks in shades of purple, blue, and black, perfectly channeling the flamboyant goalkeeper aesthetics of the late 1990s.
Gold detailing rounds off the design, highlighted by a centrally aligned Jordan Jumpman sitting above a monochrome Paris Saint-Germain crest and the Qatar Airways chest sponsor.
Neuchâtel Xamax 26-27 Fête des Vendanges Special Kit Released
Swiss Challenge League side Neuchâtel Xamax and technical partner Capelli Sport have officially released a special-edition kit for the 2026 Fête des Vendanges, Neuchâtel's iconic annual wine harvest festival. The bespoke design pays tribute to a historic local milestone, commemorating the 750th anniversary of the consecration of the Collegiate Church of Neuchâtel (Collégiale de Neuchâtel), which took place in 1276.
The Capelli Neuchâtel Xamax 26-27 Fête des Vendanges shirt arrives in a sharp black and silver colorway, covered in intricate architectural illustrations of the famous landmark. The front of the jersey features repeating linework depicting the church's Gothic arches, towers, and rose windows, flowing into detailed clock faces and decorative borders around the lower hem. Finished with matching ornate patterns along the collar and cuffs, all sponsor and club logos are rendered in monochrome silver
Montenegro 2026 Home & Away Kits Released
Italian sportswear brand Legea has rolled out the new home and away kits for the Montenegro national football team. The long-standing partnership between Legea and the Football Association of Montenegro continues with a fresh set of bespoke designs showcased on display mannequins.
The new Montenegro 2026 home kit is predominantly red, accented with two prominent yellow vertical stripes running down the front of the jersey. In line with the central design focus, the white Legea wordmark and the national federation crest sit centrally on the chest above yellow squad numbering. The strip is rounded off with red shorts featuring yellow detailing and matching red socks.
The 2026 away kit adopts an inverted approach on a clean white base. It features a bold central vertical band in red, neatly outlined by thin yellow borders that run from the collar down to the hem. The Legea logo, national team crest, and front numbers are all aligned inside the central red stripe, completed by white shorts and white socks with subtle red and yellow trims.
