Cristiano Ronaldo versus Lionel Messi. It seems like the soccer world has debated these two for a millennia. It’s no surprise, to be sure, with the two playing for storied and rival clubs in Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively. However, the rivalry also extends toward sports marketing – and the heavyweights in soccer, Nike and adidas.
With the European Championships right around the corner, kit manufacturers have begun releasing the official Euro 2016 kits for participating national teams.
Some of these designs will have you checking your bank account for expendable cash, while others will invariably have you adjusting your television’s color settings come June.
Here's a look at some of the threads the world's greatest will be sporting in France.
Spain Euro 2016 Kits
While many soccer brands have been around since the early 1900s, jersey and individual player sponsorship slowly emerged in the mid-century. Iconic European companies like Umbro and Adidas were early player favorites but, in recent years, global behemoth Nike has set their sights on becoming the biggest brand in soccer. Last year, the American company put out one of the best soccer commercials which included some of the world’s most popular players like Ronaldo, Neymar and Rooney.
El Clasico is two weeks away, but La Liga leaders Barcelona and Real Madrid cannot get lost in the drum-up toward the league's biggest match. Both face formidable opponents on Sunday, as Barcelona welcomes Villarreal to Camp Nou while Real Madrid travels to Sevilla.
Barcelona will look to the their dynamic duo — Neymar and Luis Suarez — to continue their goal-scoring spree since Lionel Messi’s injury last month. Neymar leads La Liga with nine goals, while his Uruguayan colleague sits right behind him with eight.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the boss. He is the boss of you. He is the boss of your boss. He is the boss of everyone, with the possible exception of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is also the boss.
What makes a man the boss of everyone? Owning a $320,000 car and sitting on it like it's no big deal.
Most kids, when asked what they want to be when they grow up, will give you a different answer every time you ask them. Not Lionel Messi though. He wanted to be a footballer.
"I've never thought of any other job."
Wouldn't we all like to say that? Some of us grow up wanting do do only one thing from a very young age. Very few of us actually get to become that thing, and certainly the odds are against it.
The NWSL has grown by one more team. Earlier today, Orlando City SC announced the formation of a sister club called the Orlando Pride. The NWSL Orlando team will begin play in 2016, and will be the 10th team in the league.
Introducing Orlando Pride, starting @NWSL play in 2016. pic.twitter.com/aUrLQDmGu4
Neymar is on the fast track to become one of the richest athletes in the world. He's young, he's talented, he's marketable (which is a roundabout way of saying he's good-looking). His contract is already worth a lot and will be worth more in the coming years. He makes a ton in endorsements, and is sure to continue that trend. But how much is Neymar's net worth right now?
Neymar's net worth is about $60 million (€52,710,182.40)
We thought he was in the clear. We really did. The Lionel Messi tax evasion case moved forward Thursday with the news that a request from the prosecutors on the case to drop the charges against Messi had been denied by the judge trying the case, the BBC reported.
While Lionel Messi will certainly be disappointed with the knee injury suffered against Las Palmas late last month, there is at least some silver lining in his personal life. Spanish prosecutors have dropped charges of tax fraud against the Argentine phenom. His father – Jorge Messi – however, was not as fortunate. For Messi charges dropped; for his father the hammer might drop.