​It took Nike two years of planning and two months of filming to complete the six-minute featurette “Rip the Script,” a star-studded spectacle that throws athletes and celebrities into a frenetically-paced world where some of soccer’s biggest stars are in pursuit of the ball, no matter who or what stands in their way.And it didn’t take as long for two of the biggest stars in the ad, LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo, to rip their own scripts up in a kismet life-imitating-art moment for the athletic and lifestyle brand.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement”It starts with the idea and the dream of having (in the campaign) these amazing GOATs that continue to play and defy the conventions of sport,” Camilo Andrade, Global Vice President of football (soccer) at Nike tells USA TODAY. “Sometimes we have to do shots that are taken in different parts of the world and then you have to stitch them together, but we made sure that the athletes knew about the intent.”Nike worked around Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi Pro League schedule to ensure he appeared in the brand’s World Cup campaign, “Rip the Script.”In “Rip the Script,” James and Ronaldo are in a boardroom going back-and-forth about which one of them will be the first to retire. Andrade reveals that specifically for Ronaldo, his scenes were filmed around his Saudi Pro League schedule and separate from his other Nike castmates, including James.Since the campaign reveal, the four-time NBA champion has revealed that he will play next season, but will leave the Los Angeles Lakers. And Ronaldo made news of his own as he plans to retire from World Cup play but will continue to compete in other arenas.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement”Because they loved it, it feels authentic and it really feels like it’s this sort of teasing moment between the two of them,” Andrade continues. “I’ve had fortune of being in rooms with them in, in business meetings, and you can totally see how they respect each other. It’s really cool that we can create these moments.”While the marketing executive says Nike regularly talks with their athletes about long-term goals, the brand was unaware that both stars would end up making headlines during this campaign. That said, Andrade points out that there could be another tie-in between the two global superstars down the road.”(Ronaldo) retired from the World Cup, not from the national team,” Andrade says. “Euro Champs comes in ’28. Who knows? Maybe we’ll see Cristiano and his son playing together for Portugal.”Some of the celebrities involved with “Rip the Script” include Blackpink singer Lisa, “Ted Lasso” star Jason Sudeikis (who suited up as the beloved fictional coach), hip-hop artist Travis Scott and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian. Andrade again points to authenticity in who the brand enlisted. In Scott’s case, the rapper’s Cactus Jack label has enjoyed massive success in a partnership with Nike’s Jordan brand that dates back to 2017. Andrade says that Scott is “extremely passionate