Kylian Mbappe has ended his endorsement contract, which began when he was nine years old, with Nike, one of the world's largest sportswear manufacturers. He is now moving to the emerging brand On. The person who persuaded him to make this change was Thierry Henry, his compatriot, 1998 World Cup champion, and On's head of football since last year.

While specific details of the agreement remain undisclosed, The Sun reports that Mbappe will receive an equity stake in On, mirroring the arrangement held by Roger Federer, one of the three tennis players with the most grand slam titles of all time. Mbappe's previous contract with Nike reportedly brought the French forward about 17 million USD annually.

Kylian Mbappe scores Real Madrid's fourth goal against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga at the Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid, Spain, 12/9. Photo: AP

Unlike Nike, which boasts a history spanning over half a century, On has only been producing sportswear for about 17 years. The Swiss brand initially specialized in running shoes before expanding into tennis. A significant turning point occurred in 2019 when they signed Federer. The subsequent recruitment of Henry last year and Mbappe this year signals On's strategic move into the football boot market.

David Allemann, On's co-founder, asserts that the football industry does not need more brands merely replicating existing products. Instead, it requires challenging new ideas, genuine innovation, and modern design.

"What attracted me to On is the opportunity to build something entirely new together, contributing to shaping the future of football", Mbappe stated. "I want to bring my experience and perspective to what we create, pushing the boundaries of what is possible through innovation."

Nike issued a respectful farewell to Mbappe, expressing gratitude for nearly two decades of partnership and affirming that the 27-year-old forward was an important part of the American brand. "We are proud of what we have achieved together both on and off the pitch. As he enters the next phase of his career, we wish him continued success", Nike wrote.

Mbappe's talent was evident from a young age, attracting interest from clubs like Real Madrid, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Bayern. One of his key decisions was to decline Real Madrid's offer at 14 years old to join Monaco, where he could develop away from intense pressure and play at the highest level early. In the 2016-2017 season, Mbappe helped Monaco secure the Ligue 1 title and reach the champions league semifinals. From 2017 to 2024, he played for PSG, winning six more Ligue 1 titles, reaching the 2019-2020 champions league final, and becoming the club's all-time top scorer with 256 goals. He joined Real Madrid in 2024, scoring 94 goals in 110 matches.

With the French national team, Mbappe won the 2018 World Cup and reached the 2022 World Cup final. He was also the top scorer at the 2022 and 2026 World Cups, becoming the tournament's all-time leading goal scorer with 22 goals.

Thanh Quy (according to Sun)