Nike's bet on Cole Palmer pays off as Chelsea lift the Club World Cup

Just over a week after Nike unveiled an advertisement featuring Cole Palmer, the Chelsea FC wizard went and proved exactly why the campaign was spot-on. 

Chelsea delivered a shocking 3-0 win over UEFA Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday in MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, United States, with Palmer earning the Golden Ball as the top player at the Club World Cup after scoring three goals, including two in the 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the final on Sunday.

Nike's marketing team could not have crafted the timing more perfectly. The ad film depicted a mock rehabilitation centre for players who'd been "skinned" by Palmer on the pitch, complete with staff sporting the Chelsea star's distinctive haircut, offering services to reconstruct faces, provide new identities, and even supply fresh kits to help the traumatised get back on the field.

The ad's cheeky premise was that facing Palmer's skills was so devastating it required professional therapeutic intervention.

The Cole Palmer spot was part of Nike's broader "Scary Good" campaign, which has featured football's elite, including Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. But Palmer's inclusion felt particularly inspired – here was a player whose rise had been meteoric, whose skills were genuinely frightening defenders across Europe, and whose swagger perfectly matched the advertisement's knowing wit.

The ad playfully acknowledged that facing Palmer wasn't just about losing a match; it was about having your professional pride systematically dismantled by a player who makes extraordinary looks routine.

Pertinent to mention here, the sportswear giant secured a fresh contract with the England international a few months ago, bringing him into a stable that includes Mbappé and Vinicius Jr. Outside the field, the brand has also taken Palmer's to Times Square and Madison Square Garden alongside football's established elite.

In 2025, Palmer has so far helped Chelsea win both the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup, being named man of the match in both finals and receiving the Golden Ball in the latter.