Nike’s iconic Secret Tournament advert turns 20 years old

Twenty years have now passed since Nike released a serious contender for the greatest football advert of all time.

If you remember the 2002 World Cup, then you’ll almost certainly remember Nike’s iconic ’Secret Tournament’ commercial in the build-up to that summer’s showpiece tournament in South Korea and Japan.

Twenty-four of the world’s best footballers – including the likes of Thierry Henry, Ronaldo Nazario, Roberto Carlos, Paul Scholes, Ronaldinho and Luis Figo – were split into eight three-a-side teams.

Refereed by Manchester United legend Eric Cantona, the ’Scorpion KO’ saw the eight teams compete in a cage, on a ship, with only one rule: first goal wins.

The producers of the advert nailed the soundtrack. ‘A Little Less Conversation’ by Elvis vs JXL was one of the biggest hits of 2002 and is still a banger today.

It’s impossible not to be transported back to 2002 whenever you hear the song, which reached No. 1 in various charts across the world including the UK that summer.

Take a trip back down memory lane by watching the brilliant advert here:

2022 could really do with a new @Nike Secret Tournament. pic.twitter.com/eTVxhwXFY3

These were the eight teams:

Triple Espresso: Henry, Totti, Nakata

The Onetouchables: Vieira, Van Nistelrooy, Scholes

Toros Locos: Ljungberg, Saviola, Enrique

Cerberus: Davids, Thuram, Wiltord

Os Tornados: Figo, Carlos, Ronaldo

Funk Seoul Brothers: Denilson, Ronaldinho, Ki-hyeon

Tutto Bene: Cannavaro, Rosicky, Ferdinand

Equipo Del Fuego: Lopez, Mendieta, Crespo

The teams from the ‘Secret Tournament’ by Nike in 2002. pic.twitter.com/0OYW9oveVt

The last of the 24 players retired in 2017, marking the end of an era.

FACT: Every player that featured in Nike's "Secret Tournament" advert has now