Nike Write the Future (2010)
Days after being released, this epic 3-minute masterpiece set a viral record for most views of a viral video ad in a single week. The commercial was directed by famed Mexican filmmaker Alejandro González Iñárritu and stars renowned footballers Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney, and Cristiano Ronaldo. If you believe Iñárritu, the film has a profound message behind it: that the legacy of a player, a team, or a country can hinge on a single second of performance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idLG6jh23yE
Next video: Adidas Jose + 10 (2006)
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Adidas Jose + 10 (2006)
Footballers from past and present are drafted by two little Spanish boys for a playground battle. You may not understand a single word in this commercial—but that might be the point. Soccer is an international language, right?
Next video: Carlsberg Team Talk (2010)
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Carlsberg Team Talk (2010)
Carlsberg apparently spent some £750,000 on this British ad. A host of celebrities—from sports stars to rock stars—try to inspire Team England to victory The ad wins the award for over-the-top patriotism.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66OuJZGDCHE
Next video: Nike Cage Tournament (2002)
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Nike Cage Tournament (2002)
With a budget of about $100 million, it’s not surprising that this ad—which features 24 of the world’s best soccer players —was such a hit. The premise: eight fictional teams come together to play secret tournaments inside of a cage. This wins for most impressive soccer stunts. (Attention Monty Python lovers: the campaign was directed by Terry Gilliam.)
Next video: Brazilian Football Team at the Airport (1998)
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Brazilian Football Team at the Airport (1998)
Brazilian football team is stuck in an airport. The players get bored. Someone throws out a soccer ball. The rest is advertising history.
MORE WORLD CUP
Top 10 players to watch (photos) | Ladies on the sidelines (photos) | Soccer’s biggest fakers (video) | When to watch | + more