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The Australian women's team have sold more official jerseys ahead of the FIFA WWC 2023 than the men's team managed during the FIFA Men's World Cup last year. And they haven't even played a game yet. Nike is a major sponsor of the CommBank Matildas. It also sponsors Kerr individually in a deal worth as much as $1 million. "I think she is one of the biggest athletes in the world already," said the Nike Pacific boss, Ashley Reade about the Australian superstar Sam Kerr.
Ashley Reade said the marketing potential for the women's team is now greater than the men's. A big part of that is due to the star power of Sam Kerr, the Australian skipper and Chelsea striker. According to him, She is arguably one of the biggest athletes in the world.
Nike gifted boots to Kerr when she was 16. She signed on with Nike as a contracted athlete three years later. Now at the age of 29, Kerr is the global face of Nike's Mercurial boots, alongside male star players Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe.
FIFA WWC 2023: "It's incredible, we haven't even got to the first game yet:" Ashley Reade is very happy with the progression of Women's football
"I think she is one of the biggest athletes in the world already," Mr Reade said. "She would be right up there, without question, as one of the most marketable athletes in the world."
Kerr also has a deal with EA Sports as the first woman to grace the cover of its premier sports video game. The Chelsea deal is reportedly worth more than $600,000 a season.
"The Matildas jerseys are made of recycled polyester with a marbled pattern. It draws on the golden wattle for their home strip. Nike sells them for $115 in adult sizes and $100 for children. Kids tops are far outselling adult kits," Mr Reade said. "The demand for jerseys has been unprecedented," he said. "It's incredible, we haven't even got to the first game yet."