Sportswear giant Nike has sponsored up-and-coming Brazilian org FURIA in time for ESL One Cologne.
FURIA's roster has made waves in CSGO in recent weeks with a series of impressive performances, moving to challenge MIBR as Brazil's top team.
The FURIA boys' hard work has been rewarded with a lucrative partnership deal and they will rock up at the Cathedral of Counter-Strike wearing nice new Nike gear.
One wonders if the influence of Brazil footballer Neymar Jr might have been a factor. The Paris St Germain forward - also a Nike-sponsored athlete - is a known fan of FURIA and has posted showing his support for his compatriots on numerous occasions.
Related: ESL One Cologne 2019 bracket and schedule
Nike already has a presence in esports via PSG.LGD, though the FURIA deal is thought to be the company's first direct partnership with an esports team.
The move represents Nike's first foray into esports and FURIA's CEO Jaime Pádua F. Filho said: "This contract with Nike is something pioneer in esports’ world and adds credibility and sustainability to our project."
“With Nike’s support, we’ll go on with our job of making dreams come true and forming great athletes by hard work, talent and persistence. We’ve succeeded in CSGO with this formula and we hope to reapply it to other modalities.”
FURIA, founded in August 2017, also have PUBG and Dota 2 teams.
