The advertisement, which has rapidly gone viral across social media platforms, showcases some of the biggest names in world football, all of whom are associated with Nike. The star-studded cast includes Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Bruno Fernandes, and Virgil van Dijk. No Australian footballers appear in the commercial, while Cole Palmer is the only English player featured despite not being selected for England’s World Cup squad.
Designed as a film within a film, the commercial presents a chaotic and entertaining storyline centered on the production of an advertisement. Alongside football’s elite, viewers can spot high-profile personalities including Kim Kardashian, LeBron James, Ted Lasso, Travis Scott, and Channing Tatum, who appears as one of Haaland’s teammates.
The narrative begins with Mbappe refusing to follow the director’s instructions. Instead of heading the ball into the net as directed, he executes a spectacular bicycle kick, frustrating the director and setting the tone for the unfolding chaos. Other players soon abandon the script as well, transforming the production into a series of dramatic and unexpected scenes.
Nike has released a new short film titled Rip the Script ahead of the FIFA World Cup, showcasing pieces from its X2 collection.
— Activewurld (@Activewurld_) June 4, 2026
The campaign features appearances from Kim Kardashian, LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kylian Mbappé, highlighting new kits, apparel, and… pic.twitter.com/gRArh22YWU
As the action escalates, the footballers move through a variety of elaborate sets, including a television news broadcast featuring Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a high-octane action sequence. During one memorable moment, Ronaldo, who had earlier been debating with LeBron James over who deserves the title of the greatest of all time, walks into a building rigged to explode before emerging unharmed from the flames.
The commercial ultimately returns to the original football set, where all the players sprint toward the goal. In the closing moments, a young boy appears ready to score before Haaland leaps over him and calmly finishes the move himself.
The film concludes with Nike’s tournament slogan, “Rip the Script,” appearing on screen, reinforcing the advertisement’s central message of defying expectations and rewriting the narrative.
The response online has been immediate and overwhelming. Many viewers have described the production as one of the greatest commercials ever created. Within just six hours of its release, the video had generated more than 8.8 million views on Nike’s account on X, further cementing its status as one of the most talked-about marketing campaigns ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With its blend of football icons, entertainment celebrities, cinematic storytelling, and large-scale production values, Nike’s latest World Cup campaign has emerged as a major cultural moment, generating global discussion and setting a new benchmark for sports advertising.
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