The popularity of superstar footballers and teams over the years has made the sport a cultural phenomenon across the globe.
In a 2023 BBC piece on the interesting intersection between football and fashion, there has been a noticeable rise in the use of football shirts and official kits as a show of identity and fashion. Neal Heard, author of The Football Shirts Book, likens the phenomenon to streetwear and how the once sports-exclusive training shoes have now merged sport and fashion.
Today, many fashion and style trends are influenced by sports and activewear. This includes eyewear, whether functional or purely for aesthetic purposes. As such, it’s no surprise that eyewear brands are working with football athletes for their collections. In this post, we’ll take a look at some notable football stars and their iconic eyewear endorsements:
Kylian Mbappé x Oakley
Mbappé is certainly one of the best players of his generation. In our latest team news, we highlighted his return alongside fellow stars Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga after their absence in the game against Leganes. He played a crucial role in helping the club win the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in the first half of his debut season, having scored in both finals.
In 2022, Mbappé was signed as a brand ambassador for sports performance eyewear brand Oakley. Since then, the French national captain has released various sunglasses under the brand, including the Frogskins, available in limited edition white and light curry frame colorways. The Mbappé x Oakley collection also includes the newest Signature Series Latch Panel goggles, which feature satin gold custom “KM” deco plates.
Micah Richards x Innovative Eyewear
Having started his career with Manchester City, Richards helped the team win a Premier League title and an FA Cup before joining Aston Villa in 2015 and retiring in July 2019. Richards was also the youngest defender to be called up to play for the England squad in 2006. Post-retirement, Richards worked as a pundit for Sky Sports and BBC Sport, appearing on both radio and television.
Part of his post-retirement ventures is an ambassadorship for smart glasses developer Innovative Eyewear. In the announcement, the former England footballer has become an official ambassador for the company’s Lucyd, Nautica, Eddie Bauer, and Reebok brands. Lucyd’s smart glasses are currently marketed to support active lifestyles through seamless open-ear audio and ChatGPT integration, as well as vision correction.
Sergio Ramos x Tommy Hilfiger
Finally, regarded as one of the best centre-backs of all time, Sergio Ramos has played for some of the best squads in football history, including Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and the Spain national football team. He has been named in the UEFA Team of the Year nine times, a record for a defender and the third most of any player. Playing for Spain, Ramos also became the youngest player to reach 100 caps for the country.
In 2023, Ramos joined other athletes like Australian snowboarder Scotty James for Tommy Hilfiger’s “Sporty Active” spring collection, which was produced under the Italian eyewear company Safilo Group. The collection included sports sunglasses made with resin frames and polycarbonate “tech” lenses available in a variety of colours. Ramos described the glasses as combining “everything you need—design, comfort, and a cool touch.”
These collaborations between iconic football stars and big eyewear brands are further proof of the ongoing merging between sports and fashion. It’s certainly interesting to see how fashion brands translate football athleticism and superstardom into design and style elements for daily wear.
