For many years in the world of sports, Nike and Adidas have had a duopoly as main sports brands. However, many athletes have chosen to break with these two companies to go to others with less renown such as Puma, Under Armour, Athleta… Therefore, we are going to review 12 athletes who have moved away from these large firms.
Neymar Jr
The Brazilian footballer, who since he became known in the Brasileirao was sponsored by Nikein September 2020 chose to go to Puma. Neymar was wearing the American brand 15 yearseven becoming one of its references since the American multinational gave it a exclusive model of boots: the Hypervenom. The then PSG player had this to say about the change: “I am honored to join this brand that helped the greatest football legends become who they are.”
Neymar sponsoring Nike and Puma boots
Sergio Ramos
The historic Real Madrid player, Nike icon throughout his sporting career until in February 2022, he decided to sign for Mizuno. Furthermore, Ramos is Japanese brand ambassadorwearing the brand’s most important sneakers and lifestyle clothing. This is what the Spanish defender commented on this change: “I am proud to be the new ambassador of Mizuno, a Japanese sports brand with such an important history in football.”
Thierry Henry
The iconic French footballer left Nike once the World Cup is over 2006to sign with Reebookbrand that I had acquired Adidas for 3,680 million dollars. However, shortly after arriving at New York Red Bull, in 2011the Frenchman signed with Pumawith whom he currently has a contract as ambassador of the brand.
Luis Suarez
The Uruguayan striker signed in 2018 with the sports brand Puma after being sponsored until that year by Adidas. One of the reasons may be that the German company is in charge of equip the Uruguayan teamand as he himself stated: “I am happy to join the Puma family. I appreciate their spirit to shake the foundations of football, as I have the same spirit.”
Sergio ‘Kun’ Agüero
In his stage in Atlético de Madridwhen he was a very promising young footballer, the Argentine was sponsored by Nikebut without being a powerful image for the brand. Upon his arrival at Manchester City in 2011where he ended up becoming the top scorer in the club’s history with 260 goals, has finally been a puma icon. In fact, he recently played a game in the Kings League with ‘Kunisports’, the team of which he is president, and used boots from the German brand.
Harry Kane
In August 2023the English star when he was in the ranks of Tottenham, signed a contract with Skechers to become the face of the first elite football boots from the brand, which had never before manufactured high-end soccer shoes. Like many stars mentioned, Kane abandoned Nike to be the benchmark for this company, a pioneer in the world of football.
Stephen Curry
One of the best basketball players today, in 2013 abandonment Nikeone of the brand errors throughout its history. The American company had the option to renew Curry, but a typo in his name ‘Stephon’ instead of ‘Stephen’ together with an offer of 2.5 million for the 4 that Under Armor offeredmade the current Golden State Warriors point guard end up in this new signing.
Novak Djokovic
The most successful tennis player in history abandoned Adidas in 2010 and signed for Sergio Tachinnithen he went to UNIQLO in 2012 and signed with Lacoste in 2017 a contract until 2025a brand that accompanies him today. However, in footwear, he continued wearing sneakers from the German brand until 2018to sign a contract with the company Asics.
Novak Djokovic with the four sports brands he has used in his career
Roger Federer
The Swiss tennis player had always been one of the images of Nikeuntil in 2018after 24 years, left the American brand. Federer signed a contract 300 million dollars for 10 years con UNIQLO. Mike Nakajima, former director of Nike, spoke about the departure of the Swiss that “that should never have happened. For us to let someone like that go is an atrocity. Roger Federer belonged to Nike for the rest of his career. Like Michael Jordan. Like LeBron James , like Tiger Woods. He is among the best Nike athletes of all time.”
Simone Biles
The American superstar in artistic gymnastics, abandoned Nike in 2021 after having signed with the American brand six years earlier. Biles ended up signing a contract with the brand ‘athlete. The 27-year-old athlete declared this at the time: “I felt that it wasn’t just about my achievements, it was what I represented and how they were going to help me use my voice and also be an authoritative voice for women and children.”
Allyson Felix
The most successful athlete of all time, seven-time Olympic champion and fourteen-time world champion, also abandoned Nike to join ‘athlete in 2019. He confronted the American brand because the they reduced the contract by 70% for getting pregnant. Later, he created his sneaker brand Saish with which she was Olympic champion in Tokyo.
Breanna Stewart
The New York Liberty player, triple Olympic champion (2016, 2020, 2024) and world champion (2014, 2018, 2022) also decided to break her commitment to Nike. Breanna Stewart signed with Puma in 2021having your own shoe signature and being ambassador on and off the track. Once the agreement was made official, this is what the North American said: “I am proud to join the Puma family. We share the vision of growing the sport and welcome everyone, specifically women and girls, globally. “.
Currently, we have observed that sportsmen of great influence have left the duopoly of Nike and Adidasespecially the first, being Puma the great beneficiary of this breakup. However, others have also opted for emerging firms to become icons and ambassadors of these new brands and reach the majority of society.
