World Cup Fever-Inducing Nike Ad
Vishal Khan
May 6, 2014
As you would have imagined, the new ad for the World Cup by Nike is nothing short of brilliant, and stars Cristiano Ronaldo apart from many other soccer players. The four minute spot titled “Winner Stays” features a medley of soccer demigods and even has some surprising appearances in it – like the Hulk, for example.
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The Plot Of The Ad
The ad begins with a bunch of regular kids playing a pickup soccer game in which they imagine themselves to be some of the world’s biggest soccer stars. What happens next is something out of the world of magic – these kids transform into or play as the stars they take the name of.
No References To The World Cup
The ad is so discreet about inducing the World Cup, that there is no mention of the actual World Cup throughout the segment. This is no surprise though because Nike’s ad for the 2010 World Cup titled “Write The Future” featured the same kind of secrecy.
Soccer Star Cast
Some of the most prominent players featured in the ad apart from Ronaldo are Neymar Jr., Wayne Rooney, and Andres Iniesta. There are some players who have been shown in their professional club jerseys, instead of national team jerseys. Also featured in the ad is Zlatan Ibrahimovic, from the Sweden team that didn’t make it to the World Cup.
Resemblances
Although the ad seems to have an original idea behind it, some posts on Twitter have claimed that Nike’s “Winner Stays” spot is strikingly similar to an that was broadcasted before the 2006 World Cup. Nevertheless, it is quite a common thing to imagine yourself playing as or with world-class players ever since mass media dawned upon us.
A Surreal Movie
The cinematograohy of the “Winner Stays” ad is superbly executed, and gives off the impression of a surrealistic film rather than a regular ad.
