France captain Kylian Mbappe has finalized a major partnership with Swiss sportswear brand On, effectively ending his long-standing relationship with Nike. The move marks a significant shift for the Real Madrid forward, who had been a face of the Nike brand since 2006.
“Today, Swiss sportswear brand On announces its entry into football alongside football champion Kylian Mbappe, marking the beginning of the brand’s journey into the world’s biggest sport,” the company stated. As part of this strategic expansion, On has appointed 1998 World Cup winner Thierry Henry as its new football director. The brand, which previously specialized in running and tennis gear, plans to debut its first line of football boots next year.
For Mbappe, the collaboration offers a chance to innovate within the sport. “From the beginning, what drew me to On was the opportunity to build something entirely new together that will help shape tomorrow’s game,” the player said. “I want to bring my experience and perspective into what we create, push what’s possible through innovation, and always stay true to the joy of football. We have a shared dream, and this is only the beginning.”
The partnership is a notable loss for Nike, which had positioned the 2018 World Cup winner as its premier football ambassador, effectively succeeding Cristiano Ronaldo as the company’s leading icon. Mbappe remains the tournament’s all-time record holder with 22 goals. The athlete’s departure follows another high-profile exit for Nike in 2024, when Spanish star Lamine Yamal signed with Adidas.
On, founded in 2010, counts tennis legend Roger Federer among its shareholders. Federer famously made a similar transition, leaving Nike to join the Zurich-based company toward the latter stage of his professional career. While the financial details of Mbappe’s contract remain undisclosed, Nike continues to represent other major stars including Erling Haaland and Vinicius Junior. The report also notes that succeeding Portuguese great Cristiano Ronaldo, who at 41 is ap, the 2018 World Cup winner and all-time leading scorer in the tournament’s history with 22 goals had gradually emerged as Nike’s foremost football ambassador.
Comments