Nike football ads: 'Good vs Evil' in 1996 featuring Cantona, Maldini, Wright will always be iconic

Nike and their iconic football adverts became somewhat of an institution back in the day.

Enlisting the help of some of the biggest names in the game, the American company produced some absolutely epic ads that felt more like short cinematic movies than mere marketing material.

For years they monopolised the market and the tangible nostalgia attached to each and every one always gets football fans of that era in the mood.

Their iconic secret tournament turned 20 years old recently and, unsurprisingly, was once again getting a lot of love on social media.

Other truly memorable ads include their brilliant piece in the aftermath of Fernando Torres signing for Liverpool, ‘The Last Game’ in 2014 or ‘Ole!’ for Euro 2004.

Another that has recently re-emerged online and is doing the rounds is one of their more edgier, but no less entertaining, efforts.

‘Good vs Evil’ was released in 1996 and features some of the best players not only of that time, but in history as well.

The sight of Eric Cantona and Paolo Maldini stood shoulder to shoulder will never get old.

Ronaldo, Ian Wright and Luis Figo, among many others, also feature as the superstar squad come up against a villainous looking gaggle of brutal opponents.

After a few hairy moments that see the stars being bullied into near submission, the tide turns following an iconic Maldini sliding challenge.

He then pings a long ball forward to Patrick Kluivert before, via the boot of many a 1990s legend, Cantona takes the moment by the scruff of the neck, blasting a missile through the chest of the villain in chief.

Check it out in the brilliant clip below:

The Good vs Evil Nike advert. pic.twitter.com/0OpConX3cb

Brilliant. Nike’s marketing department were just on another level back