Most people are well aware that some of the best athletes in the world make an insane amount of money. Some of them do that because of their salary, whereas others earn a lot more from different sponsorship deals.
Speaking of sponsors, many big companies invest millions into sports because they believe this allows them to get more customers. This is definitely true because the big brands that sponsor a given club or athlete are exposed to millions of potential clients. Of course, all of this comes at a cost because companies have to pay a lot of money to do that.
While on the topic of paying money, let’s look at some of the most impressive sponsorships in sports so far.
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1. Michael Jordan’s deal with Nike
Whether you are a basketball fan or not, you know the name Michael Jordan. Widely regarded as the world’s best basketball player, Jordan has become a living legend even outside the sport.
Among the many things that Jordan is famous for is his incredible partnership with Nike. There was even a movie about it because it all started in 1984 when the brand decided to approach the Chicago Bulls and create a unique type of sneaker. Back then, a rule did not allow basketball players to wear anything other than white sneakers, so once the Air Jordans came to life (they were red, white, and black), there was a $5K fine every time the player used them, and Nike paid for it.
Nowadays, Michael Jordan and Nike’s partnership deal is valued at $1.3 billion. Needless to say, this is among the most successful sponsorship deals ever, even outside of sports.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo’s deal with Nike
There’s no arguing that Air Jordan is among the biggest brands in sports right now, but this isn’t Nike’s only gigantic partnership. The company is also among the biggest sponsors in football, and it has an incredible deal with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Everyone knows that Ronaldo has been among the world’s best football players for years. In fact, he is often the reason why a lot of people decide to read reviews of sports betting websites, find a bookie, and bet on him. Places like Efirbet are known for offering content like that and can assist fans of Cristiano or any other athlete/sport find the ultimate betting operator.
Regarding the actual sponsorships deal, the information states that Cristiano Ronaldo and Nike have a $1B contract. The two parties signed it in 2016, but it’s worth knowing that Nike has been Ronaldo’s sponsor since 2003. Today, Cristiano Ronaldo is the third person to have a lifetime contract with the giant sportswear company.
3. LeBron James’s partnership with Nike
Speaking of insane sports partnerships and lifetime deals, the third person who deserves to be on the list is the famous basketball star LeBron James. We can go on and on about why he’s one of the world’s top athletes, but most people already know that. What they may not know, however, is that LeBron has a contract with Nike that is worth $1B.
Interestingly, LeBron has been part of Nike’s team since 2003. However, it was not until 2015 that the two parties signed the giant deal, which made LeBron the second person after Michael Jordan to have such contact.
4. Lionel Mess’s deal with Adidas
The last big sports sponsorships deal that we’d like to mention here includes Lionel Messi, arguably the best footballer to ever live. Instead of working with Nike, Messi is actually a part of Adidas’s team, and also has a crazy sponsorship contract worth $1B.
Adidas and Messi signed this deal in 2017, but he has been a “part of the brand” since 2006. What’s interesting about Messi is that he was also on Nike’s team before, but he ultimately decided to partner with the European sportswear giant.