Nike pulls plug on Benzema ad with values clash after review
Under the harsh glare of a London studio’s neon lights, a camera crew waited for Karim Benzema to step onto the set. The French striker, now a free agent, had been slated to front a new Nike campaign. The atmosphere shifted when the shoot was called off.
Nike, the American sportswear giant, cancelled the session on Wednesday night after concluding the former Real Madrid and France forward’s controversial past conflicted with the brand’s values. The shoot had been scheduled for Thursday in London. The decision was reported by The Athletic.
Nike cancels London shoot
In a statement to The Athletic, Nike said: “This project does not reflect a wider relationship between the athlete and Nike. We regret that conversations got this far.” The company stressed the cancellation was not part of a broader partnership.
Benzema had previously worn Nike boots before switching to rivals Adidas in 2007, a change documented by Getty images. The French striker’s early association with the brand contrasted sharply with his later move to the German competitor.
Benzema's legal past and free‑agent future
In November 2021, a French court found Benzema guilty of complicity in the blackmail of fellow France international Mathieu Valbuena involving a sex tape. He was fined €75,000 and received a one‑year suspended prison sentence, prompting a five‑year absence from the national team. His lawyer Hugues Vigier told the Associated Press in 2022: “Karim continues to contest the slightest blackmail. He is guilty under the law, that’s true. But judicial truth is different from reality.”
Benzema left Real Madrid in 2023 after a 14‑year spell, finishing as the club’s second‑highest scorer behind Cristiano Ronaldo. He then joined Al Ittihad for the 2024/25 Saudi double and later moved to fellow Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal, departing by mutual consent last month. The 39‑year‑old, who turned 39 in December, is now one of the game’s most prominent free agents, with a proposed return to Lyon having collapsed earlier this month and rumours of a Premier League move circulating.
During his international career from 2007 to 2022, Benzema featured at four major tournaments and retired with 97 caps and 37 goals, making him France’s sixth‑highest scorer. He was named French Player of the Year four times between 2011 and 2021.