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.