SPORTSWEAR giants Nike knocked it out of the park with an incredible World Cup advert starring A-listers from football and beyond.
But its creators may have felt a tinge of embarrassment when Cole Palmer – the only England player represented – failed to make his country’s World Cup squad.
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Cole Palmer featured in the Nike ad despite not making it into England’s World Cup squad Credit: Nike
Erling Haaland and Channing Tatum made for a comical duo Credit: Nike
Kim Kardashian features alongside her son, Saint Credit: Nike
Travis Scott is another A-lister brought on by Nike Credit: Nike
Palmer was part of a star-studded crew of players including Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Bruno Fernandes and Virgil van Dijk to feature in the ad.
There was also room for Kim Kardashian, Travis Scott, LeBron James and Ted Lasso – as well as a surreal link-up between Channing Tatum and Erling Haaland.
The chaotic but brilliant six-minute thrill ride starts with Mbappe scoring a bicycle-kick before viewers realise he is actually in a TV studio, and a director is begging him to just head the ball in the next take.
Kim K then walks in, prompting a double-take from Van Dijk.
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Travis Scott starts piping up on the sidelines before a mob of world-class players decide to ignore the director and have their own kickabout.
Tatum, dressed as Haaland, springs up to get involved before the Manchester City striker stops him and says: “We’ll get there.”
Vinicius dances his way through a group of security guards before Mbappe dribbles through a punditry studio where Kate Scott, Didier Drogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are chewing the fat.
Ibra says “Zlatan will be back” and goes to join in the fun.
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LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo sat side by side in a meeting room Credit: Nike
Ronaldo dramatically emerged from a burning building Credit: Nike
Eric Cantona was predictably poetic in his scene Credit: Nike
Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso watched the action unfold Credit: Nike
Where to buy England’s 2026 World Cup kits
ENGLAND are dreaming of World Cup glory in North America this summer.
And you can show your support for Thomas Tuchel’s men by wearing the new Nike kits.
The white home jersey and red away strip were unveiled and went on sale in March.
England home and away kits can be purchased online at the England Store.
The AeroFIT kits cost £134.99 for adults, while the Stadium kit costs £89.99.
A full kids’ kit – shirt, shorts, socks – costs £54.99.
*If you click on a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue.
The football action then spills over into a film scene featuring Eric Cantona on a fishing boat, before the shot switches to a meeting room where LeBron and CR7 are being pitched a film called ‘The GOAT’s Goodbye’.
A ball comes flying through the window and Ronaldo needs no second invitation to get involved.
The Portuguese starts bobbing and weaving through defenders before retrieving the ball from a rigged house on a film set which explodes, but dramatically leaves him unharmed.
England reject Palmer then pops up with rapper Central Cee in an icy landscape before leading all the players back into the original studio.
Every player is scrapping to apply the finishing touch as the director scrambles to get his shot, when Haaland, quicker than Tatum can blink, springs up and produces an incredible acrobatic finish – a playful nod to how the Norwegian often pops up with goals despite not contributing to the build-up.
Ted Lasso and Ronaldinho are watching on awestruck from the periphery as the screen cuts to Nike‘s ‘Rip the script‘ tagline.
It is an incredible assembly of famous faces from different walks of life, released days before the World Cup.
And it comes a few weeks after Adidas’ £50MILLION advert which featured Timothee Chalamet, Lionel Messi and Bad Bunny.
