Title: Nike UK | Client: Nike | Photographer: Mark Zibert
The 2014 World Cup kicks off this week and some advertising agencies have been planning and preparing for the event for years. Unlike FIFA, it seems like they know what they’re doing. Here are a few of the most creative World Cup commercials we’ve seen thus far.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XviR7esUvo
This Nike commercial features kids transforming into some of the best soccer players in the world. The first superstar is none other than reigning Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, whom the United States will attempt to slow down Ronaldo and Portugal when they meet on June 22.
After Ronaldo, Brazilian star Neymar and British striker Wayne Rooney, who’s featured in the image at the top of the page, appear on the pitch. The Hulk transforms into American keeper Tim Howard after he snatches an incoming corner kick. Andrés Iniesta, Eden Hazard, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Andrea Pirlo, Gerard Piqué and basketball superstar Kobe Bryant, who is a huge soccer fan, also make appearances in the memorable Nike commercial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR1XQsCiAKE
Adidas went in a different direction with its “All in or Nothing” campaign. This spot features arguably world’s best player, Lionel Messi, dreaming and visualizing what he will do in an upcoming match – the World Cup in this case. It has rapid cuts of star players such as Xavi, Dani Alves, Luis Suárez, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mesut Özil, Robin van Persie, David Villa and Jordi Alba executing difficult maneuvers with a Kanye West track playing in the background.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlwG6yE7Jt4#t=31
If you haven’t heard of him yet, meet Nico Calabria. Born with one leg, he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro at age 13 and plays for the USA National Amputee Soccer Team. He’s featured in a Powerade commercial and is part of the company’s “There’s Power in Every Game” campaign for the World Cup. As a result, he met FC Barcelona star Andrés Iniesta, who is also featured in the campaign and won the 2010 World Cup with Spain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyWVia7hzGs
This “I Believe” commercial is sure to get American fans pumped up. It features a host of famous folks including Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Hamm, Ice Cube, Kevin Costner, Jimmy Kimmel, Rajon Rondo, Barry Sanders, Cam Newton, Andrew McCutchen, Hope Solo and Abby Wambach saying “I Believe,” which are interspersed with highlights from the U.S. Men’s National Team.
Title: Nike UK | Client: Nike | Photographer: Mark Zibert
If England hopes to make it to the knockout stages of the World Cup, it will require substantial contributions from Danny Welbeck (above) and particularly Wayne Rooney (pictured at top of page), who’s still seeking his first World Cup goal.
Mark Zibert photographed Welbeck, Rooney and other members of the national team for the launch of England’s 2013-2014 home kit for Nike. Zibert, an award winning photographer and director, was 23 years old when he was hired by Nike to shoot a national outdoor ad campaign for the company. Besides Nike, Zibert’s clients include Crispin Porter + Bogusky, New Era, Puma, Adidas, Nissan, Pepsi, Stella Artois, LIFE Magazine, Entertainment Weekly and ESPN.
Zibert’s photographs appeared in the Photography Annual 2003, Poster Annual 2007 and Advertising Annual 2007 and each received a Gold Award.
To see more of Zibert’s work, visit his website here.
The advertising competition features the most compelling and influential advertising of the year. Gold and Platinum awards, along with winning entries, will be published in the Advertising Annual 2015. Submit your work to the Advertising Annual 2015 competition here.
