Nike explained in a statement issued on its site this week that since 2003, when a young Cristiano Ronaldo signed with Nike, he has worn more than 60 different Nike Mercurial boots, scoring goals, breaking records and amassing trophies along the way.
The successful partnership between Nike and Ronaldo will continue well into the future with a new, long-term contract.
“I have a great relationship with this brand. I have great friends here in the company,” says Ronaldo. “We work as a family too,” he adds. “This is my brand.”
According to Nike, Cristiano Ronaldo’s extensive feedback and insights have helped Nike’s design team on numerous products, especially the Mercurial Superfly boots that he wears. His commitment to fitness has also informed Nike’s training products, while his style is regularly on display in Nike Sportswear. Notably, of all of the athletes in the Nike family, it was Cristiano Ronaldo who was the first to don the new HyperAdapt 1.0 shoes.
According to Spanish sports websites Marca and AS, the new contract is set to remain in place for life. The two Madrid-based newspapers said the contract is thought to be worth €20 million, which is the same amount as Ronaldo’s new salary at Real Madrid.
According to Forbes magazine, Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest earning sports person in the world with an income of around €80 million per year.