Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT%

Nike has been on a roll lately, cresting $100 a share level and generally exceeding its sales and profit goals. In elite athletic running shoes they are totally dominant at the moment, and have just leapt forward again with the launch of the new Nike Air Zoom Alphafly NEXT%. If you haven't seen them yet, click here. Wow!

It's not that Nike never puts a foot wrong though. The company lost some credibility in 2019 when the Nike Oregon Project was shut down and its controversial coach Alberto Salazar was fired. They also endured some internal dramas over sexual harassment complaints which resulted in the departure of some other senior executives. The new CEO, former eBay chief executive John Donahoe took over last week.

Another blunder was Nike's two decade foray into the murky underworld of Brazilian football. Nike signed a giant $200 million, 10-year sponsorship deal with Brazil's soccer federation in 1996, busting into the terrain of football kit powerhouse Adidas. The Selecao (national team) wear Nike kit.



According to subsequent investigations by the Brazilian parliamentary inquiry and FIFA, Nike's contract included $30 million in kickbacks that went via a middleman to federation officials as bribes. Nike have pleaded ignorance and subsequent deals have been more transparent.

Nike now makes about $2.3 billion in revenue from soccer, neck and neck with Adidas. That includes boots, as well as shirts sold to millions of fans. In recent world cups, the company has sponsored more World Cup teams than its German rival.