Noah Lyles has recently inked a monumental deal with Adidas, marking it as the most substantial contract in track and field since the legendary retirement of Usain Bolt. This landmark agreement extends through the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. While the exact financial details remain undisclosed, industry insiders anticipate it to rival Bolt’s historic $10 million per annum deal with Puma, which spanned the duration of his illustrious career until 2017.
Speculation mounts whether Lyles’s pact could position him among Adidas’s top 10 highest-paid athletes, especially following his social media post hinting at “The Next Chapter Begins Now!” Such a move not only signifies Adidas’s strategic investment in Lyles’s exceptional talent but also underscores the shifting landscape of athletic endorsements.
Adidas’s burgeoning glory now includes Lyles in its vivid repertoire
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Noah Lyles’s ascent to becoming the face of Adidas marks a significant milestone in his career trajectory. Yet, amidst the roster of elite athletes sponsored by the renowned brand, who exactly reigns as the top 10 highest-paid Adidas ambassadors? Mohamed Salah, the soccer star and Zinedine Zidane are among the roosters. It also includes Donovan Mitchell, the NBA star who signed a deal with Adidas in 2017, valued between $5-$15 million annually. But this list continues.
Basketball star James Harden set a high bar with his massive 13-year, $200 million Adidas deal in 2015. He joins soccer player Paulo Dybala, former tennis star Ana Ivanovic, and NBA star Derrick Rose. The iconic David Beckham holds a lifetime contract worth $160 million, while Lionel Messi, known as the greatest footballer ever, is rumoured $27 million annual deal from Adidas. But it’s worth noting Lyles has been the face of Adidas in 2016 as well.
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Lyles’s aspirations on and off the track
Since his sponsorship with Adidas commenced during the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, “When I first signed with Adidas in 2016 along with my brother, Josephus, it was like a dream come true for us,” Lyles said in a press release. “Today is just a continuation of that childhood dream.” He marked his prominence with a fourth-place finish in the men’s 200m as a high school senior during that time.
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Fueled by recent personal bests and world-leading times, Lyles charges into the 2024 season as a sprinting powerhouse. He sets his sights on the Paris Olympics, where he aims to solidify his dominance by capturing his first Olympic gold medal, not just in one, but both the 100m and 200m events.
