10 Football Players Who Changed Their Boot Sponsors

For top footballers, personal sponsorship deals represent a significant secondary income after their club salary. While most elite players remain loyal to a single brand for years, a few have made notable switches. Here are ten high-profile examples of players who changed boot sponsors during their professional careers.

Messi: Nike to Adidas

Without doubt the most significant switch. During Leo Messi’s first appearances for the FC Barcelona first team, he wore Nike boots (the club’s main sponsor). However, Adidas recognised the Argentine’s potential and offered him a lucrative contract when he was just 18 years old.

Pogba: Nike to Adidas

One of the most recent changes. Paul Pogba was a Nike player for several years, but his loyalty was unpredictable – he could be seen wearing Nike one day and Adidas the next. He has since become Adidas’s biggest signing of the year, making a return to Nike unlikely.

Mata: Nike to Adidas

During his time at Real Madrid’s academy and Valencia CF, Juan Mata scored goals wearing the Swoosh brand. In 2013, while playing for Chelsea FC, Adidas signed him along with a teammate who was also a Nike athlete.

Torres: Nike to Adidas

That teammate was Fernando “El Niño” Torres, who left Nike for Adidas. He had been a Nike player for over a decade, winning the World Cup and scoring the decisive goal in the 2008 European Championship while wearing Nike Total 90 Laser boots.

Marcelo: Nike to Adidas

The last player on this list to move from Nike to Adidas. Curiously, on his presentation day at Real Madrid, Marcelo wore Adidas boots – but he likely had no signed contract with any brand at that point. He was sponsored by Nike from his arrival in Madrid through the 2012‑13 season, then became an Adidas player.

Dani Alves: Adidas to Nike

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Dani Alves is one of the most unpredictable players when it comes to boot sponsors. He arrived at FC Barcelona wearing Nike, then signed with Adidas in 2011. After a few years with the German brand, he chose not to renew and returned to Nike in time for the 2015 UEFA Champions League final.

Higuaín: Adidas to Nike

Like Marcelo, Gonzalo Higuaín wore Nike boots on his presentation day at Real Madrid. Adidas quickly offered him a contract, making him an Adizero player. Seven years later, still with Real Madrid, Nike signed the Argentine. He remains loyal to the American brand today.

Henry: Nike to Reebok to Puma

Thierry Henry’s sponsorship journey is particularly interesting. He was the face of Nike during his golden years at Arsenal, but after moving to FC Barcelona he signed with Reebok – a brand that would stop producing boots a few years later. In 2011, while playing for the New York Red Bulls, he signed with Puma. He still serves as a brand ambassador for Puma.

Fàbregas: Nike to Puma

Cesc Fàbregas wore Nike throughout his Arsenal career and even in his first year at Barcelona. Despite playing for a Nike‑sponsored club, he signed with Puma during his second season at Barça. Since then, he has become one of Puma’s most prominent sponsored players.

Agüero: Nike to Puma

We finish the list with Premier League star Sergio “Kun” Agüero. He competed in La Liga with Atlético Madrid wearing Nike boots, but was not a strong brand image for Nike. That changed after he moved to England to play for Manchester City and signed with Puma, becoming a key figure for the brand.

Why do you think Nike allows so many players to leave? We look forward to reading your comments.

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