Nike.
A few weeks ago, Nike Football had fans playing detective. Through a series of cryptic Polaroids, scattered visual clues and carefully selected collaborators, the sportswear giant hinted that something bigger was brewing for the summer of football. Now, the mystery has been solved.
Nike has officially unveiled ‘Rip the Script,’ a blockbuster campaign film that serves as the centrepiece of its wider summer football universe, bringing together some of the biggest names in sport, music and entertainment in a celebration of instinctive, creative football.
The campaign film acts as Nike’s rallying cry for a new generation of players. “We know the magical moments in football happen when players trust their instincts,” says Helena Thornton, VP, Nike Brand Management. “That’s the kind of football we love: fresh, instinctive, unexpected and creative.”
Nike.
Set inside a fictional Hollywood film studio, the six-minute production imagines a world where football’s biggest stars refuse to follow the script. As chaos unfolds on set, players take control of the narrative themselves, showcasing the creativity and spontaneity Nike believes sits at the heart of the game.
The cast is as ambitious as the concept. Current Nike athletes, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Vinícius Júnior, are joined by football icons Eric Cantona, Ronaldinho, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Didier Drogba and legendary Mexican goalkeeper Jorge Campos. Beyond football, the film expands into wider culture through appearances from LeBron James, Travis Scott, Kim Kardashian, Channing Tatum, Young Miko, BLACKPINK’s Lisa, and even Ted Lasso, reinforcing Nike’s belief that football now extends far beyond the pitch itself.
“We were intentional in choosing every cast member in the film, and we had fun and leaned into the playfulness of their roles,” says Enrico Balleri, VP, Creative Director, Global Brand Voice.
Nike.
Alongside the film, the brand’s 2026 federation kits, newly unveiled Mercurial Vapor and Superfly boots, and the X2 collaboration project all form part of the same ecosystem. For those who followed the Polaroid campaign from the start, the narrative delivers the missing piece of the puzzle. Nike describes it as an evolving universe that will continue to unfold throughout the summer via new content, retail activations and unexpected storylines.
Whether it’s Mbappé launching into an acrobatic bicycle kick, Ronaldinho continuing to play by his own rules or Kim Kardashian embracing a playful football mum role, the film leans heavily into the idea that the sport is at its most entertaining when nobody sticks to the script. And with plenty of promised Easter eggs, extensions and surprise appearances still to come, Nike’s summer narrative looks far from finished.
Discover more here.
photography. courtesy of Nike
words. Gennaro Costanzo
