Nike's 'Secret Tournament' In The Cage Is One Of The Greatest Football Adverts

Nike have produced so many belting adverts over the years but the one in the cage back in 2002 could well be the best.

Before the 1998 World Cup, we had the classic advert of the Brazil team, including the likes of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Roberto Carlos, playing football throughout the airport.

But four years on and they somehow managed to better that production by bringing is some of the best players on the planet battling it out on a container ship to become the best three-a-side cage football team in the world.

The Junkie XL remix of Elvis' 'A Little Less Conversation' played in the background and Eric Cantona was the referee for proceedings. The teams were stacked with legends all over the place. I mean, just look at the teams

Image: Nike

Triple Espresso:

Thierry Henry

Francesco Totti

Hidetoshi Nakata

The Onetouchables:

Thierry Henry

Ruud van Nistelrooy

Paul Scholes

Toros Locos:

Freddie Ljungberg

Javier Saviola

Luis Enrique

Cerberus:

Edgar Davids

Lilian Thuram

Sylvain Wiltord

Os Tornados:

Luis Figo:

Roberto Carlos

Ronaldo

Funk Seoul Brothers:

Denilson

Ronaldinho

Seol Ki-hyeon

Tutto Benne:

Fabio Cannavaro

Tomas Rosicky

Rio Ferdinand

Equipo Del Fuego:

Claudio Lopez

Gaizka Mendieta

Hernan Crespo

It was 'Triple Espresso', with Henry, Scholes and Van Nistelrooy, that came out on top - beating the all Real Madrid trio of Figo, Carlos and Ronaldo in the final.

The cracker of an advert brings back all sorts of nostalgia but also a tad bit of sadness knowing that none of the players are still lacing up the boots.

Former Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky the last man standing, announcing he would call time on his career in December and finishing his stint in the game by playing 12 times for hometown club Sparta Prague.

Considering this was one of Nike's most successful adverts/campaigns - surely it makes sense for them to revisit the concept with their current esteemed list of athletes?

Cristiano Ronaldo, Eden Hazard, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Kevin De Bruyne and the like would rip it up, no doubt.

Is it the greatest football advert of all-time?

Sound off in the comments.

Topics: Football News, Football, Nike

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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