Sports entertainers are increasingly gaining celebrity status. Whether it’s the flocking of fans or the ever-expanding commercial avenues, athletes have become bona fide stars even when they’re not in gear. While stars from soccer like Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo have enjoyed their fair share of commercial value, Michael Jordan continues to be a league apart.

Back in 1991, after winning his first championship, Mike’s fame was at an all-time high. It was a time in history that could change everything for a company if they could bring on His Airness as their ambassador. That is exactly what one brand did in the 1990s. With just one commercial, they changed the history of their company. And with Jordan as their key attraction, they now rank above everyone else.

Michael Jordan takes the top spot over soccer stars Ronaldo, Rooney

The Gambling Zone recently ranked the best sports commercials of all time and made a list. And His Airness came above other greats like Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. The commercials that were ranked second and third were ‘Nike – Write the Future’ released for the 2010 Word Cup with a score of 8.58 and ‘Nike – Take It To The Next Level’ with a score of 8.38, which was released in 2008.

Both of these are soccer commercials that feature some of the greatest players from the present and the past. But not even Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, or Ronaldinho could be as great as Jordan when comparing success from commercials.

After looking at commercials with impact over the years, they placed the ‘Be Like Mike’ commercial as the best sports ad of all time.

Read More: Questioning LeBron James? ?Power? Against Kris Jenner, NBA Champ?s Take on Kardashian Mom?s 1 Favor Leaves Lakers Star in Splits

Gatorade made the iconic commercial in 1991 with Michael Jordan. The ad has now been seen by over 5 million people on the internet. With a score of 8.69/10, the commercial was a massive success, as is a part of pop culture.

If you look strictly at numbers, then the World Cup commercial is the most viewed commercial on the internet and shows how a single strike can change everything. But in terms of cultural impact and recall value, ‘Be Like Mike’ became a phrase unto itself. Of course, it wasn’t easy to sign Mike either.

How did Gatorade get Mike?

Michael Jordan was signed to Coca-Cola for over half a decade. After winning his first championship with the Chicago Bulls, he was undeniably the best player in the league. So Jordan wanted to have a bigger share of the beverage company.

However, when MJ asked for a bigger contract over a long period of time, Coca-Cola refused.

This gave Gatorade the right opportunity to swoop in and steal Jordan from the beverage giant. They gave him a deal for $13.5 million over a 10-year period. This then led to them making the iconic ‘Be Like Mike’ commercial. The commercial was a huge success as it showcased Jordan smiling, drinking Gatorade, and playing basketball off the court with kids while also making big shots in the NBA finals.

Over the years they have made more iconic commercials with Jordan, notably the one where a 39-year-old Jordan is seen talking to a 23-year-old Jordan.

Gatorade was later bought by Pepsico in 2001. which is now worth $220.49 billion. What do you think of their iconic commercial? Let us know in the comments!

Watch This Story: Brock Lesnar?s UFC Future Might Look Brighter With Company Cutting Ties With USADA, Prompting Fans Wishing Dream Match at UFC 300