A small detail that says it all! Mbappé erases Nike from his boots in the Madrid derby
Sharp-eyed viewers of the Madrid derby noticed a telling detail. Kylian Mbappé is wasting no time distancing himself from his former sponsor.
Details: According to The Touchline, Mbappé hid the Nike swoosh on his cleats during the match against Atletico Madrid. The Frenchman is now an ambassador and shareholder of the Swiss brand On.
The photos from the derby spread like wildfire: Mbappé's boots were completely white, with the famous swoosh covered up. The gesture makes perfect sense given the events of the past week: the Real Madrid star officially left Nike after two decades together and signed a 10-year global ambassador agreement with On, also becoming a shareholder of the Zurich-based company, much like tennis legend Roger Federer before him. The twist is that On has no football boots on the market yet: the brand's first model, developed with input from new director of football Thierry Henry, is only planned for 2027. Until then, Mbappé faces an awkward transition period, playing in de-branded footwear. Another curious wrinkle awaits him on international duty: Nike supplies the France national team kit, so during the ongoing break with Les Bleus, Zidane's captain figure will still have to wear the swoosh on his shirt. Every Clasico and Champions League night in whited-out boots is now a rolling advertisement for On, and the marketing battle around the world's most electrifying striker has only just begun.
It's worth noting that, according to media reports, Mbappé's stake in On follows Federer's model, with the Swiss great having invested around $50 million for roughly 3% of the company, a holding that has multiplied in value since.
Reminder: End of an era! Mbappé ditches Nike after 20 years and teams up with Arsenal legend
Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
