It is said that most Brazilians lack the mental and physical toughness needed to prosper in the English Premier League. But that’s bulls**t. Oscar Emboaba, is a young Brazilian on the rise in football, and he happens to possess maturity, calm passing, and a right foot that’s able to make a goal from a drone-strike distance. Besides playing pivotal roles for both the Chelsea Football Club and Brazilian National Team, this stud is now recognised for fronting the campaign for both Calvin Klein Jeans and Calvin Klein Underwear.
Dutch football great Johan Cruyff made his debut in 1964, and he knew how to demonstrate speed, intelligence, and fluidity wherever positioned. He was a three-time Ballon d’Or (European Footballer of the year) winner and the man who famously ripped off one of the trademark Adidas stipes on his Holland jersey because of his sponsorship deal with Puma. A trendsetter he was, it was a move that sparked many retro knock-offs. The football legend’s a genius, and today, for a piece of his legacy, one can easily turn to his brand Cruyff Classics for comfy and stylish sporty kicks.
Pele started out as a skinny teen prodigy who easily scored six goals in the 1958 World Cup, helping Brazil beat Sweden 5-2. For the next couple of World Cups, he soared to becoming the world’s best player both years. Pele was inventive and brave, and he remains to be the only player to have won three World Cups. Whenever he wasn’t in a football jersey, he always made it a point to deck out in perfection, frequently donning ’60s slim-fitting suits and cool turtlenecks in Steve McQueen fashion.
Though depicted as one of the greatest players in the history of Japanese football, Hidetoshi Nakata‘s career was shortlived. And when he retired at 29, many felt his considerable potential wasn’t yet reached. Since washing his hands off football, he has forayed into the Japanese sake market, modelled for Calvin Klein, and made the cover for GQ. And unlike most men, this guy has impeccable style. Italo Zucchelli, Men’s Creative Director of the Calvin Klein Collection, ever remarked, “he plays with fashion like all of them now, but in a cooler, more sophisticated way than many others.”