how good are all the soccer players from the last game commercial in 2014

The main players in Nike’s 2014 The Last Game commercial were all elite names, but the ad mixed real-world star power with caricature and humor rather than showing their full playing level. Based on the players featured, the roster was extremely strong overall: Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Wayne Rooney, Andrés Iniesta, Neymar, David Luiz, Tim Howard, and Franck Ribéry.

How good they were

• Cristiano Ronaldo: one of the best attackers of his generation.

• Zlatan Ibrahimović: elite striker, famous for skill and power.

• Wayne Rooney: top-tier forward/attacking midfielder in his prime.

• Andrés Iniesta: world-class playmaker, especially in possession and control.

• Neymar: already a global star and elite winger/forward in 2014.

• David Luiz: high-profile defender, known more for flair than consistency.

• Tim Howard: very strong goalkeeper, especially around the 2014 World Cup.

• Franck Ribéry: top-class winger and one of Europe’s best attackers.

Overall take

If you rank the group by pure football quality in 2014, it was a seriously stacked cast, with several Ballon d’Or-level talents and a few strong supporting stars. The ad’s joke was that these players were “the best,” yet they were acting like a world that had forgotten how to play beautiful football.

Simple rating

• Star power: 10/10.
• Peak quality: 9/10.
• Balance across positions: 8/10.
• Entertainment value in the commercial: 10/10.

One-line answer

They were mostly world-class players, and as a group they were one of the strongest ad lineups Nike could have put together in 2014.