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10 greatest football TV adverts ever from Nike's secret tournament to Joga Bonito

The football-based TV advert is certainly a rarity, but when they do come along, they are often a thing of beauty

Creating an iconic football advert is a delicate art. Some get it absolutely bang on, others less so.

Youre dealing with athletes rather than actors, presenting certain challenges, but you also have immensely recognisable faces with unique talents, and it's about how best to use them.

From the Brazilian stars involved in Joga Bonito to Gareth Southgate and his Pizza Hut venture, there have been a number to light up our TV screens.

Weve picked out some of the best, not all of which are restricted to footballers playing football.

Pizza Hut - Pearce, Waddle and Southgate

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Pearce and Waddle have a giggle at Southgate's penalty miss at Euro 96(Image: Youtube)

Released when Gareth Southgates Euro 96 penalty miss was still fresh in the memory, this advert shows you dont need professional actors to get the message across.

Sometimes, laying it on a bit thick is exactly what you need to do, and it gets the message across better than any subtlety could.

The bag over Southgates head. The hammy acting from Psycho. The pizza. It was a simpler time.

Watch the advert here.

Nike - The Airport

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To so many, this is the greatest football TV advert of the lot(Image: Youtube)

A great soundtrack can make or break an advert, and Nikes use of Sergio Mendes Mas Que Nada couldnt be more perfect for this.

Brazils 1998 World Cup squad, taking a football through an airport with incredible style, with the music adding an extra layer of cool.

If you didnt try to recreate this with your mates in whatever enclosed space you had access to - school, sports hall or office - you missed out.

Watch the advert here.

Nike - The Secret Tournament

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"A little less conversation, a little more action please"(Image: Youtube)

Another ad you couldnt help but try to replicate, it saw eight three-a-side teams play what might be the best first goal wins knockout tournament in living memory.

Eric Cantona as referee. Elvis vs JXL as soundtrack. The combined talents of Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Thierry Henry and more. What wasnt to like?

Was it better than the 2002 World Cup which followed? You know what, maybe.

Watch the advert here.

Sugar Puffs - Newcastle United

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The Honey Monster is something of a Newcastle legend now(Image: Youtube)

Newcastles number nine shirt has been worn by some all-time greats. Jackie Milburn. Alan Shearer. Honey Monster.

The cereal mascot (yes, we know) was signed by Kevin Keegan in this alternate reality which I think we can all agree is better than our actual reality, and scored a fantastic header to send the Toon Army wild.

No, we will not explain why it works so well or even justify its existence. If youre asking those questions, youll never understand.

Watch the advert here.

Nike - The Mission

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There was a star-studded field for the pre-Euro 2000 advert(Image: Youtube)

There was a period around the turn of the century when Nike were constantly nailing it, and this Euro 2000 ad came right between the airport and the Secret Tournament.

A secret mission, featuring stars such as Edgar Davids and Lilian Thuram, with production values worthy of much more than a pre-tournament football ad? Sign us up.

Oh, and its worth watching for Louis van Gaals cameo alone, more than a decade before he rocked up at Old Trafford.

Watch the advert here.

John Smiths - Ave It

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We all know what happens next from here...(Image: Youtube)

In many ways the antidote to those stylist Nike ads, John Smiths brought Peter Kay on board and used him perfectly.

A lovely series of keepy-uppies from team-mates on a Sunday league pitch, ruined by Kays unmistakeable Ave It as he sends the ball out of bounds.

It spawned plenty of copycats around the country, which is a surefire sign that an ad has left its mark.

Watch the advert here.

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Kronenbourg - Eric Cantona

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King Eric was the star of the show for Kronenbourg(Image: Youtube)

The hop farmers are treated like the footballers of Britain, says Eric Cantona of Alsace in this advert for Kronenbourg, a beer first brewed in the French region.

From there on out, in this and in further ads, its far more beer than football, but Cantonas presence justifies its inclusion here.

Its easy to see how the former Manchester United star was drawn to acting after hanging up his boots.

Watch the advert here.

Carlsberg - Ireland World Cup

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Carlsberg don't do dreams, but if they did...(Image: Youtube)

Its hard to produce a good and engrossing variation on the it was just a dream trope, but Carlsberg did it here.

It hardly matters that Ireland winning the World Cup is far-fetched - youre somehow roped in by the excitement and, yes, the soundtrack.

This is enough to make us long for a time when this sort of ad was commonplace ahead of a major tournament.

Watch the advert here.

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Nike - Joga Bonito

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Ronaldinho starred in the iconic Joga Bonito video(Image: Youtube)

We should probably point out here that other sports brands are available, but this is another gem from Nike.

It features some of the Brazilians we got used to seeing around the period in question, and, above all else, it serves as a reminder of the quality that flowed through Brazilian football.

Were still not sure how Kaka, Ronaldinho, Adriano and co fell short at the 2006 World Cup.

Watch the advert here.

Nike - Brazil v Portugal

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Ronaldinho in action during another iconic Nike advert(Image: Youtube)

Another blend of footballing beauty and absolute chaos here.

Plenty of the usual suspects are involved - Ronaldo, Figo, Denilson and more - but this ones actually set inside a football stadium.

Add in an iconic soundtrack and countless Oles and its a recipe for brilliance once more. Oh, and it wouldnt be complete without Ronaldinhos famous flip-flap.

Watch the advert here.

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