Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo sparked controversy after being spotted wearing a pair of shoes from a company that competes with Nike, with which he has a long-term contract. Ronaldo was seen wearing shoes from this competing brand while playing paddle with his friend Miguel Paixão, putting him in an awkward position and causing a promotional dilemma.
Ronaldo has been linked with the American sportswear company Nike since 2003, being its most prominent athletic figure globally. He signed a lifetime contract in 2016 that reportedly earns him £147 million annually, along with other benefits, including access to a secret site where he can request any products from the company.
In the past, Ronaldo has worn shoes from brands like Louis Vuitton and Gucci, but those instances did not lead to any issues since neither company directly competes with Nike in the sports shoe market.
Currently, the Portuguese striker is on summer vacation and is set to join his Saudi team Al-Nassr in a few days. Reports suggest that Ronaldo will play a preparatory match for the 2024-2025 season against Almería in Spain on August 8.
