For many years in the world of sport, Nike and Adidas have had a duopoly as the main sports brands. However, many sportspeople have chosen to break away so here are seven sportsmen and women who have sensationally quit the iconic brands.
Puma if often the big beneficiary of this breakaway, widely regarded as the third most popular supplier on the market behind Adidas and Nike. However, others have also opted to forge their own paths with emerging brands to become ambassadors of these growing names such as Under Armour.
Here are several athletes who chose to snub the two American apparel giants that dominate the global market:
Neymar Jr. (Soccer)
The Brazilian soccer star, widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time, had been sponsored by Nike since he made his name in his native home, but dramatically opted to go with Puma in September 2020.
Neymar had been wearing the American brand for 15 years, including through his stint with Barcelona, even becoming one of its stars as through the exclusive model of Hyper Venom boots but it couldn’t keep him forever.
The then-PSG player had this to say about the change, “I am honoured to join this brand that helped the greatest legends of football to become who they are.”
Stephen Curry (NBA)
Fumbling Steph Curry is widely regarded as one of Nike’s biggest mistakes as he went on to become one of the most iconic and best players of his generation, which includes Kevin Durant and LeBron James.
Back in 2013 he left Nike after a typo in his name was perceived as disrespect, so instead he signed with Under Armour for $4m because going on to star in the Golden State Warriors‘ NBA dynasty.
Simone Biles (Athletics)
The Artistic Gymnastics legend is without a doubt the finest of all-time in her field but she also left Nike in 2021, six years after signing with the American brand six years earlier as she enjoyed unprecedented success in the Olympics and World Championships.
Biles ended up signing a contract with the Athleta brand and praised the new direction as awarding her the chance to use her platform to create social change and to inspire the new generation.
“I felt it wasn’t just about my achievements,” Biles said at the time. “It was about what I stood for.
“And how they were going to help me use my voice and also be an authoritative voice for women and children.”
Breanna Stewart (WNBA)
The New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart is another high profile name who chose to shatter her commitment to Nike as she headed for new pastures, like Biles, to inspire the next generation of talent.
A then-two-time Olympic champion, Stewart signed with Puma in 2021 and earned her own signature shoe as well as becoming an ambassador on and off the court.
“I am proud to join the Puma family,” Stewart told media. “We share a vision to grow the sport and welcome everyone, specifically women and girls, globally.”
Luis Suarez (Soccer)
The legendary Uruguayan soccer star, who scored 198 goals for Barcelona, signed with Puma in 2018, around the time of the FIFA World Cup, after being sponsored previously by Adidas although the reasons aren’t entirely clear.
But fans suspect it was because Puma earned the contract to supply the Uruguayan national soccer team with their kits and Suarez would become the face of the brand in the South American nation.
“I am happy to join the Puma family,” Suarez said. “I appreciate their spirit to shake the foundations of football, as I have the same spirit.”
Novak Djokovic (Tennis)
Djokovic, the most successful tennis player in history, who spent 428 weeks ranked as number one, eft Adidas in 2010 just before he exploded into his true potential as he signed for the Sergio Tachinni label, before going on to UNIQLO in 2012 and then Lacoste in 2017 until 2025.
But they did manage to keep the services of the 24-time Grand Slam winner in footwear. At least he continued to wear shoes from the brand 2018, when he signed a contract with Asics.
Roger Federer (Tennis)
The Swiss tennis player dominated the sport alongside Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray between 2004-2022 and is widely regarded as the best ever, as well as one of the most graceful and classful tennis players to ever pick up a racket.
As a result, he had always been one of Nike’s staple and most popular images until 2018, when he left the American brand after 24 years to sign a 10-year, $300 million contract with UNIQLO.
“That should never have happened,” Mike Nakajima, Nike’s former CEO, said of Federer’s departure. “For us to let someone like that go is an atrocity.
“Roger Federer belonged to Nike for the rest of his career. Like Michael Jordan. Like LeBron James, like Tiger Woods. He’s among the greatest Nike athletes of all time.”
