Alongside movie stars, TV hitmakers, award-winning crooners, and supermodels, athletes have become some of today’s biggest influencers.

According to Forbes marketing experts, because athletes have a proven track record, their credibility is much more solid than other celebrities. In many cases, an athlete’s stats can also propel them to role model status, with countless people looking to emulate them. Thanks to this, any brands that they work with are immediately more attractive to fans. Ultimately, it is this impact that has helped boost influencer marketing into an industry worth more than $4 billion.

Of course, athletes also have a lot to gain from strategic endorsements. With the right brand, they can showcase their star status and widen their reach outside sports.

Among the many sectors utilizing athletes for collaborations, eyewear is one of the most active. Today, we look at three of the most iconic eyewear brands that have wisely onboarded a star athlete to their roster of endorsers.

Dwyane Wade x Versace

Although he retired from the NBA in 2019, Dwyane Wade remains one of the most successful basketball players of his generation. Across his 16-year career, Wade played mostly with the Miami Heat, bagging significant accolades. This includes three coveted NBA Championship rings. Outside the court, Wade has been a popular figure in male fashion. The younger athletes of today have Wade to thank for paving the way in normalizing more tailored looks outside of the standard suits and ties. Because of his sartorial contributions, Wade has been embraced by the high fashion world via invites to exclusive shows, elite parties, and, as of a few years ago—luxury endorsements. Since 2023, Wade has been an endorser for Versace sunglasses. Distinguished by its strength of character, innovative use of unexpected materials, and varying styles, Versace is a renowned design house worldwide. Their eyewear, much like their other offerings, comes in unisex designs for those who choose to express their unique sense of style confidently. According to Wade, working with Versace means working with a brand that aligns with his own boldness, values, and individuality.

Meta x Rayban x Coco Gauff: The Art of the Downtime from NONO + RODRIGO on Vimeo.

Coco Gauff x Ray-Ban

Despite being only 19 years old, Coco Gauff is poised to be tennis’ newest It Girl. The youngest American to win the Grand Slam title at the US Open, Gauff has already made a name for herself thanks to her physicality, energy, and sincerity. With this, the young Olympian joins the ranks of other female athletes like Simone Biles, who have become role models for young girls everywhere. In particular, the representation they bring provides a positive contrast to the misogyny that women, and Black women, specifically, are subject to in media. Although it would be easy for a young star to get swept up in her achievements, Gauff remains as true to herself as ever. After every big win, she knelt in prayer and graciously greeted her opponents. While other big-name celebs, like Justin Beiber, cheer her from the stands, Gauff considers herself the same girl who only wants to be better and honor her craft. That said, outside of tennis, Gauff is very much a laid-back teenager. She collects stuffed toys and films TikToks when she’s free. This is why her new endorsement with Ray-Ban is a great fit. Using the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, Gauff was tapped to share more of her unseen personal life. Between shots of her hanging out with her younger brothers and pursuing other activities, Gauff shows that it’s important to live in the moment—a sentiment espoused by Ray-Ban, too.




Kylian Mbappe x Oakley

Widely considered one of the best footballers today, Kylian Mbappe is now mentioned with the likes of David Beckham, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo. At only 25, the French star has already hit many career highs that others can only hope for. For example, Mbappe holds the record for most goals during a World Cup finals match. Apart from sports, Mbappe has established himself as a prize endorser. Currently, his list of endorsements includes market leaders like Nike, Hublot, EA Sports, and, of course, Oakley. To date, Oakley is undoubtedly the biggest name in performance eyewear. With technology that promises durability, comfort, and safety, Oakley sunglasses are a must for many athletes. In his partnership with the brand, Mbappe has released a collection of exclusive shades for casual and sports use. Each pair merges Oakley’s world-class craftsmanship with signature Mbappe details like his initials and chosen colorway.