The ten best football adverts to hit our TV screens.
In homage to Nike’s new advert for this summer’s World Cup, we’ve compiled the ten best football advert to hit our screens since the late ’90s.
10. Nike – Joga TV ‘Never Grow Up’
Brazilian star Ronaldinho relives his youth on the futsal court by showing us that football is best played with all the youthful enthusiasm of a child honing their skills for the first time.
9. Gatorade – The Road
Grainy footage of some of the trials and tribulations of the United States national side’s route to the 2006 World Cup is played over a slowed down version of popular baseball tune ‘Take me out to the ball game’. However, their tournament was over a lot quicker than the journey there.
8. Nike – Henry’s House
Thierry Henry gave Kevin McAllister a run for his money by defending his home from a series of familiar invaders, but showed that he is susceptible to slide tackles from his dog.
7. Adidas – Footballitis
In the run up to the 2002 World Cup Adidas came up with the theory that we all suffer from a severe case of footballitis. It’s fair to say they were right, and 12 years later it doesn’t look like the condition is subsiding at all.
6. Carlsberg – Pub Team
Danish alcohol company Carlsberg made what could be the finest Sunday League side in the world (albeit 30 years too late) but the ad gave a hilarious insight into some of England’s finest getting their kit together of a morning to take on a younger, yet greatly less talented side down the local park.
5. Nike – Joga Bonito
Simple. Effective. Zlatan Ibrahimovic performs kick ups with a piece of chewing gum. Watch and re-watch.
4. Nike – Airport
Hollywood director John Woo got behind the camera to film this epic commercial showing what the Brazil national team get up to when they’re bored at an airport. Shot in time for the 1998 World Cup, the Selecao were heavy favourites to lift the trophy only to fall apart in the final.
3. Nike – Good vs Evil
Created in time for Euro 96, Nike got the world’s best to take on the demons of hell in a fiery colosseum in the desert. It was the ad that made the collar pop wildly popular amongst kids in playgrounds the world over, as Eric Cantona proved that he is cool personified.
2. Nike – Take it to the Next Level
Guy Richie directed the POV style tale from rags to riches ahead of Euro 2008. A truly dizzying ride through the eyes of a young player getting snapped up from non-league to the Dutch national team via Arsenal. Blood, puke, and breasts, this ad has it all.
1. Nike – Write the Future
Nike dominate this list by capping it with this epic mini-movie for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. World stars are given glimpses of what could be in a sliding doors scenario that also features some amazing cameos from the likes of Roger Federer, Kobe Bryant and even Homer Simpson. However, the ad’s central theme of the fear of failure acted as a premonition for one of the dullest World Cups in modern memory.