Michael Olise, World Cup star without a boot deal or brand sponsor | OneFootball

Michael Olise has lit up this World Cup with five assists in seven matches, yet he has no boot or brand deal. The Bayern Munich forward and France face England in tomorrow’s third-place play-off after their semi-final defeat by Spain.

“I can’t think of any player of that calibre, a top international at the World Cup and a top club player, who doesn’t have a brand deal,” said sports marketing expert Misha Sher. He was speaking to The Athletic.

“It is difficult to say exact numbers, but it is certain to be in the seven figures and probably the multiple millions per annum, at a minimum,” he said.

Without a contract, Olise chooses his own boots, often matching them to his kit. His preferred model is Nike’s Hypervenom Phantom 3, first released in 2017, and he wore a bespoke pair by artist Matty Boy against Sweden in the round of 32.

“Around 10 years ago, maybe less, you’d have the majority of Championship players on boot contracts, getting paid a bit of money and getting sent all this stuff,” said Ben Warren, who specialises in providing boots to professional footballers. “It’s completely and utterly changed now, which is wild.”

Source: NY Times