In a move that transcends the game, Nike has dropped the curtain on FC Barcelona’s 2025/26 away kit, and it sees the unmistakable Kobe Sheath replacing the Swoosh on a professional jersey, marking a bold new chapter as the Mamba Mentality finds a new arena: the Camp Nou.
For the first time in over 25 years, the Swoosh is replaced on a Barcelona jersey, as Nike usher in a bold new chapter of Mamba Mentality for the Catalans' away shirt for the 25/26 season. It's the first time in football history that the unmistakable Kobe Sheath features on a professional football kit, following in the footsteps of the Jordan on PSG and Nocta on Venezia as a Nike sub-label takeover. Here, brought to life through a shared obsession with excellence, Nike’s partnership with Barcelona now channels the relentless spirit of Kobe Bryant — his discipline, his devotion to craft, and his unshakable belief that better is the only choice.
Barça and Kobe’s bond wasn’t born overnight. Kobe’s love for football was no secret — his admiration for Barça’s joyful, expressive style even less so. And in return, the club has long recognized Kobe as more than a fan. He was a peer, a symbol of uncompromising greatness, a student of the game in every sense.
That mutual respect now manifests in the club’s new away strip — a kit that pays homage to the Black Mamba, both in aesthetic and attitude. Set to debut on pitch 31 July, when Barça faces FC Seoul as part of the club’s Asian preseason tour., the design comes in Team Gold, a nod to some of Kobe’s most iconic on-court moments, accented with hits of Persian Violet and black. Subtle, striking, symbolic.
The detail doesn’t stop there. The crest and Sheath logo are glossed in a 3D snakeskin texture — a tactile tribute to the Mamba himself. Below, black shorts feature a snakeskin-patterned texture with violet details, while the socks finish the look with a Kobe Sheath on the shin and “Barça” stamped proudly on the calf.
The kit isn’t arriving quietly. It’s introduced through Mamba Rondo, a campaign film that pulls no punches. Voiced by first-team coach Hansi Flick and driven by the idea that “Better is the Only Choice,” the film fuses Kobe’s relentless training mindset with the iconic Barça rondo drill — an exercise that encapsulates the very soul of the Catalan club’s game.
This isn’t just narrative — it’s lived experience. The campaign stars Nike and Barça athletes across both the men’s and women’s squads, including Alejandro Balde, Pablo Gavi, Patricia Guijarro, Frenkie de Jong, Ewa Pajor, Salma Paralluelo, Claudia Pina and Alexia Putellas. All players. All students of the game. All carrying the Mamba torch.
As with the PSG x Jordan drops over the years, the Kobe x FC Barcelona collection goes beyond the pitch. The drop includes co-branded lifestyle gear, a slide built for post-match cool-downs, and two court classics reimagined for football culture: the Air Force 1 Protro and the Kobe 4 Protro. Heritage silhouettes with a future-forward twist.
This is Nike at its best — connecting eras, fusing icons, and telling a story that moves culture forward. With the Sheath now part of Barça’s armor, the message is clear: greatness recognises greatness. And for the next generation of athletes, the path forward is simple: Better is the only choice.
Shop the Kobe x Barcelona 25/26 away shirt at prodirectsport.com/soccer. Kobe x Barcelona footwear will launch globally 31 July.
