The Vinicius Jr. battle against Nike Yesterday the Real Madrid footballer took to the pitch wearing a pair of painted black boots

Yesterday's LaLiga match between Real Madrid and Valencia was Vinicius Jr's 200th appearance in the Spanish league, but the Brazilian winger did not exactly celebrate the round number. Rather, he stepped onto the pitch wearing a pair of black-painted Nike boots, taking his battle against the US outfit to a new level. In the second half, Vini Jr. then swapped his playing shoes for a bright yellow pair in which the sponsor's logo was much more visible, scoring the Blancos' second goal in the 54th minute. The change in the dressing room, however, did not change Vinicius Jr.'s intention to continue his war against Nike through legal action, breaking a contract that binds him to the brand until 2028.

Nike, for its part, does not want to lose so easily a world-class player who has been with it from the start of its career and who is fundamental to the increasingly competitive football sponsorship market. Indeed, in recent years the American brand has seen the return of its competitors, from adidas to PUMA, who have signed various footballers once sponsored by Nike. Neymar - the main footballer of the Brazilian national team - once sacked by Nike, has become the new main face of PUMA, while a break with Vinicius would mean losing their continued presence in the Seleção and adidas no longer having a link with the title-winning club in Europe.

The power that individual players have gained over the years has meant that sponsorship deals are now much more volatile. As well as technical material, footballers are demanding media and social engagement and more freedom to move with other brands. Vinicius himself has been chosen as a testimonial for many other international companies such as Pepsi, EA Sports, One Football and Royaltiz and expected the same treatment from Nike. Instead, the Real Madrid winger is preparing to become a new free agent in a market that is expected to heat up, with Haaland and possibly Leao also in play.