Puma’s New Ad Blends Pulisic, Gakpo, and Football Humor

Quick listen: Puma’s newest campaign wins 7.7M views by mixing Pulisic, Gakpo, and OussiFooty's comedy — proving humor is Puma’s fast lane to cultural relevance.

Puma Football has unveiled the Ultra 6, its newest speed-focused football boot.

The model features a lightweight mesh upper designed for better ball control and a SPEEDSYSTEM outsole with FastTrax studs to support acceleration.

The launch comes with a global marketing campaign titled "Keeping Up With Ultras."

Developed with SLAPS Creative, the series puts Christian Pulisic, Cody Gakpo, and football creator OussiFooty at the center of short comedy clips aimed at younger fans.

SLAPS Creative said the idea was to present speed in a way that feels different from a typical product launch.

“Puma Football came to us with a simple request: to create a fresh and fun way of showcasing speed for the launch of the new Ultra boots, featuring Christian Pulisic and Cody Gakpo.

So we asked ourselves: what is speed? It’s not just about raw pace – it’s about anticipation, reading the game, and always staying one step ahead of your opponent.

That’s where our idea came in: a short social series with football creator Oussie, titled Keeping Up With Ultras.

Because if it’s already tough to compete with these players, once they lace up in Ultras, there’s simply no keeping up.”

Each spot runs about a minute and places OussiFooty in tongue-in-cheek challenges with football stars.

In "Keeping Up with Pulisic," OussiFooty cannot finish introducing a drill before Pulisic is already done, whether it is shooting practice, sprint training, or even a spaghetti-eating race.

The gag ends with Pulisic handing him a pair of Ultra 6s, highlighting that staying ahead requires more than effort alone.

In the "Keeping Up with Gakpo" video, Oussi feels prepared, already having Ultras, only to find out later that the shoes have vanished.

He jokes that Gakpo is late, but the Liverpool forward appears instantly at his side, calmly stating, “I'm never late.”

Oussi sets up sprints, 1v1 drills, and recovery breaks, but each time, Gakpo has already finished before the words are out.

The punchline comes when Oussi’s missing boots are revealed on the feet of a groundskeeper in the stands, reading The Science of ULTRA Special.

Creator-Led Campaigning

The series has already drawn nearly 7.7 million views across Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

Puma’s decision to highlight humor and cultural storytelling rather than just product design is helping the Ultra 6 cut through in a crowded boot market.

The campaign works because it combines elite athletes with a relatable creator.

Pulisic and Gakpo provide sporting credibility, while OussiFooty brings humor and accessibility.

That mix allows the content to travel naturally on TikTok and other social channels without looking like a conventional advertisement.

Our Take: Can Humor Help Puma Compete With Nike and Adidas?

This campaign is not about specs alone.

It reframes speed as a mindset and delivers the message through content that fans want to watch and share.

If I were advising Puma, I’d push for fan remixes and challenges around the series, letting supporters create their own stunts to extend the humor and deepen engagement.

In a football market where Nike and Adidas dominate, Puma’s best path is not copying their style but owning the cultural space around speed.

Humor, paired with creators, is its way in.

See how other sports brands are leaning into cultural storytelling with the NFL and Crocs' new campaign.

Want your next product drop to entertain as much as it informs? These agencies help sports brands build culturally relevant, scroll-stopping campaigns.