FC Barcelona is looking to emulate the Mamba Mentality ahead of the 2025-2026 season.
Nike is announcing a new partnership that combines Kobe Bryant’s legendary Mamba Mentality with Hansi Flick and FC Barcelona’s pursuit of excellence to inspire the next generation of athletes worldwide.
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The partnership celebrates Kobe’s lifelong love for football and admiration for FC Barcelona’s joyful style of play and philosophy. In return, Barça recognizes Kobe as a driving force in global sport who lived by the discipline and drive for greatness that defines the club.
Bryant’s love for Barcelona is well documented. At the peak of the club’s tiki-taka football revolution, Bryant often was spotted wearing Barcelona kits, as well as working with the team closely. He even had player exclusive sneakers, who’s designs were inspired by FC Barcelona kits. Bryant demanded perfection and execution in his time on the hardwood, and that is a feeling that resonated deeply with Barcelona on the pitch.
This shared mentality is channeled into Barça’s 2025–26 away kit, which features the Kobe Sheath in place of the traditional Nike Swoosh and takes inspiration from Kobe’s classic on-court looks. The jersey appears in a light Team Gold base with Persian Violet and black accents. The short features a black base with a snakeskin-textured pattern and Persian Violet accents. The jersey’s club crest and Kobe Sheath take on a silicone gloss 3D snakeskin texture, and the uniform’s socks bear a Kobe Sheath over the shin and “Barça” on the calf.
The partnership also includes the new Kobe x FC Barcelona Air Force 1 Protro, Kobe 4 Protro, and post-match slide, as well as a curated selection of co-branded lifestyle apparel.
The Kobe Bryant x FC Barcelona apparel will be available globally beginning July 29 at nike.com, the Barça Official Store and select Nike retail locations. Kobe x Barcelona footwear will launch globally July 31, with select markets following later this summer. The away kit will also debut on pitch July 31, when Barça faces FC Seoul as part of the club’s Asian preseason tour.
The jersey and accompanying apparel collection is live now via Nike.
You can check out detailed photos of the Kobe IV Protro below, coming to SNKRS on July 31st.
