Ah Joga Bonito! A glorious throwback to 2006, when Nike inspired the world to “play beautifully” through its iconic ad campaign, which itself arrived under the banner of Joga TV. And now it’s the focus of a new homage-fuelled collection from the Swoosh, which is headlined by a new look for the Premier II Sala.
Ronaldinho, the Brazilian team, Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo vs Zlatan Ibrahimovic… we could go on. Joga Bonito represents a glorious era of football, of care free showboating and pure entertainment for entertainment’s sake. The Brazilians undoubtedly did it best (Joga Bonito is Portuguese and originated from Brazil after all), but it was a bandwagon that any flamboyant skill merchant quickly jumped on. Still not sure what the hell we’re talking about? Just watch the video below, and marvel in the pure joy of kicking a ball about, Brazil style.
Right, now that we’re done with that brief commercial break, we can get back to business. Where were we? Ah yes, Joga Bonito. It’s that glorious era circa 2006 that’s brought back into focus once again, as Nike use it as inspiration for its latest street capsule. The main player in this collection is the Premier II Sala, which has been wrapped in a black upper with a vibrant outsole that’s inspired by the beginning of the Joga TV ads.
Designed for the small-sided game, the Premier II Sala features a Lunarlon foam midsole for comfort, while the suede upper provides great touch and control. The TV bar colourings dominate the outsole, but they’re not just restricted to the underside, also flashing through the tongue and on the insole. The enlarged Swoosh down the sides features a specially embossed design that again calls out the Joga Bonito style of play.
And although the Premier II Sala takes up most of the focus, it’s also joined by some apparel options, including a hoody, tee and rucksack, all of which are adorned with the “Joga Bonito” graphic and style.
Shop the Nike Premier II Sala 'Joga Bonito' and supporting collection at prodirectsoccer.com
