The premise of Nike’s impressive World Cup ad is this: a scientist has cloned the ‘perfect’ football team – removing the compulsion to take any risks from the players – and has put some of the world’s best footballers out of business. Zlatan Ibrahimović is depicted trying to flog copies of his autobiography and Wayne Rooney is struggling with his fishing net.
Ronaldo (the Brazilian) decides enough is enough and gathers some of the best footballers together to make a stand in a winner-takes-all match against the clones.
The film features animated caricatures of Nike’s flagship football players: Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Wayne Rooney, Andrés Iniesta, Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, David Luiz, Tim Howard and Franck Ribéry.
It’s the first animated World Cup commercial and, at 5 minutes long, it well worth the watch – it’s already notched up 49 million views on YouTube.
