WATCH: “Greatest ambassador and legend” – Nike’s video tribute to Rafael Nadal goes viral; fans react

Ahead of Rafael Nadal's last dance, tributes have poured in from various walks of sporting world, and Nike's one was just special.

WATCH: “Greatest ambassador and legend” – Nike’s video tribute to Rafael Nadal goes viral; fans react

Nike paid tribute to Rafael Nadal (via DAZN/X)

Rafael Nadal will officially begin his final professional tennis tournament of his illustrious career. The 38-year-old will represent Spain in the Davis Cup in Malaga as they take on the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. In tribute to Nadal’s career, Nike has joined the growing chorus of well-wishers with a heartwarming video.

Nadal has a wonderful relationship with Nike having first signed for the sports brand at the age of 13. He earned just $500,000 in his first five years of the partnership before signing a 10-year contract extension worth over $10 million per year. In 2016, he was given his signatory bull logo, which has become synonymous with tennis greatness.

YouTube video

In 2017, he signed another five-year extension with Nike with the same earnings as the previous one. For the majority of Nadal’s career, he started in several of Nike’s marketing campaign adverts. With his retirement from tennis, the sport brand company posted a white and black clip in tribute to Nadal’s iconic career on X.

FS Video

In the clip, Nadal was playing on the clay court while Phil Knight, former CEO and co-founder of Nike narrated. The video ended with Nadal walking away from the court.

No one has given more to their sport. Or left it all on the court every single time. @RafaelNadal, you showed us what it takes to be the greatest. It only takes everything.

Nike captioned the video via X

The sport brand has also changed its profile picture to Nadal’s signature Bull logo. Nike is currently hosting a Black Friday early access sale, giving major discounts for Nadal’s signature apparel and footwear collection.

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Fans react to Nike’s tribute video to Rafael Nadal’s final career tournament

Fans on social media reacted to Nike’s tribute video to Rafael Nadal. The 38-year-old has not played any competitive event since the Paris Olympics in August. However, he was in action for Spain against Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp at the Davis Cup Finals.

Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal (via X)

The Spaniard is aiming to win the Cup for the sixth time in his career having last won it in 2019. He is yet to win a title this season and reached the Nordea Open final before losing to Nuno Borges in straight sets.

One of the greatest athletes of all time!

A fan reacted

Here are other fans’ reactions:

Nadal will surely end his career on a high knowing he won 92 career singles titles and was victorious in over 1,050 matches. Before his loss to Van de Zandschulp he had lost only once and won 29 consecutive matches since making his debut at the Davis Cup