On Football Is Officially on Instagram. Could Mbappé Join Soon?

After months of speculation, it seems On Football is actually a thing, as confirmed by a new @on.football Instagram account.

The Swiss brand was born in 2010 out of a big, bold idea to revolutionize running footwear cushioning. In 2021, On Running expanded to include On Tennis—a new category introduced with the help of Roger Federer, who joined the team in 2019 as a shareholder after leaving Nike in March 2018.

All signs suggest that Kylian Mbappé, the French forward for Real Madrid, will help launch On Football in a similar manner.

Back in March, Le Parisien reported that the 27-year-old was contemplating a split from the Swoosh following the 2026 World Cup™. Mbappé was a key face for the brand's Mercurial Superfly 11 speed boots—even receiving a special-edition pair for being the tournament's top scorer—and all apparel associated with the France national football team. According to the report, the official contract between Mbappé and Nike only ran until the end of the World Cup™, meaning renewal negotiations would be on the table. Le Parisien posited that the Bondy-raised superstar was likely considering adidas or Under Armour for a move, but it would seem that a deal with On—which would surely involve equity—is more appealing to the Frenchman.

Mbappé's relationship with Nike spans more than 20 years. A longtime fan of all things Air Max and Mercurial, the forward has gotten a handful of personalized gifts and product collaborations over the last decade. His fandom of Cristiano Ronaldo, a lifetime Nike Athlete, has also influenced his decision to represent the Swoosh on-pitch, but Mbappé might be ready to fully plant a new legacy rather than contribute to an existing one.

As aforementioned, On launched its Tennis category with the help of one of the sport's most-decorated pro players of all-time—and a fellow Swiss at that. Federer's deal with On was structurally different from his 24-year Nike endorsement because the European company allowed him to be a shareholder instead of being limited to a standard sponsorship agreement.

Perhaps Mbappé, cognizant of the value he brings to NIKE, Inc., wants a piece of the pie and is willing to walk away if he doesn't get it.

If true, this battle has been seen on more than one occasion between the Swoosh and a cast of influential figures across culture and sport.

Although On hasn't proven itself in the world of football, its promise of Swiss engineering seen across its running, trail, tennis, and training footwear boasts a confidence not even enjoyed by some legacy sportswear companies.

In mid-August, former Nike Brand Marketing Director Jordan Rogers uploaded an Instagram Reel in which he shared one of the reasons he believed Kylian Mbappé could join on if he left the Swoosh: a job opening in Zurich for a Senior Specialist in Footwear Design. The person in the role would "contribute to the creation of next-generation performance footwear-translating athlete insights, biomechanics data and advanced technologies into innovative design solutions." Additionally, the Mission laid out for the Senior Specialist mentions being "an integral part of the Performance Footwear Team Sports Vertical, contributing to the development of high-performance products built for elite athletes."

Of course, the language in the job opening has been kept sufficiently vague as to not confirm anything, but when combined with the launch of the @on.football Instagram account (spotted by Sportsverse) the number of possibilities dwindles.

Given Mbappé's reputation of speed, On would also be a good fit for the Frenchman.

Over the last few years, the Swiss company has made great strides in the world of marathon racing. Technology like LightSpray™ has also disrupted the footwear manufacturing industry, earning the distinction as one of TIME's "Best Inventions of 2024."

Could you imagine a lightweight, eco-friendly pair of speed boots featuring a LightSpray™ upper? Mbappé would be the perfect figure to unveil such a product.

If the partnership actually happens, it's possible Real Madrid's number 10 debuts On Football on-pitch in the Madrid Derby on Sunday, Sept. 20. And if that's the case, that'll be the beginning of what will surely be a pivotal moment in sportswear.