Mbappé, Cherki, Olise, Doué in boot-brand battle as World Cup nears | OneFootball

The boot-brand race around France’s stars is intensifying before the World Cup, with Kylian Mbappé and Rayan Cherki central to the jostling.

According to L'Équipe, deals often expire in tournament years and are governed by strict matching rules. A player cannot hear new offers until the day after expiry, cannot commit for six months, and must notify his existing brand, which can match.

Mbappé’s Nike contract ends on 31 July, so if he leaves he will not sign elsewhere before early 2027 and should start the season unsponsored. The option to continue with Nike remains credible, with some sources putting it at 50%, 10 to 15% for rivals, and the rest for newcomers.

The main challenger is not Adidas, Puma or Under Armour, but an unnamed entrant outside football. Nike could take him to around 20 million euros a year, while the outsider is pushing an innovation-first project, echoing Federer with ON or Jordan with Nike.

Cherki’s five-year Adidas deal also expires this summer. Adidas have recently spotlighted the Manchester City forward, yet Puma are ready to push, and a switch could place him among the top 10 with 3 to 4 million euros per season.

Désiré Doué signed with Nike two months ago for several million euros, making him one of the brand’s best paid, while the Ballon d'Or Ousmane Dembélé has two years left with Adidas. Michael Olise trained in unbranded white boots made by Nike and, at 24, still has no deal. In Nantes against Côte d'Ivoire, he wore Nike.

Source: L'Équipe