There’s a saying: “don’t mix family with business.” Well, the Dassler brothers took that advice and threw it out the window — literally. The feud between Adi Dassler and his older brother Rudy Dassler is one of the most bitter sibling rivalries in history, and it created two of the biggest brands in the world: Adidas and Puma. This wasn’t just a family squabble — it was a war that split a town, divided an industry, and changed the world of sports forever.

It all started with a small family business called Dassler Shoes, founded by their father in Germany. The brothers, from the town of Herzogenaurach, worked together to make shoes. But as time went on, their company started facing problems, and a decision had to be made. The younger brother, Adi, had a vision — make shoes for athletes. Rudy, the older brother, was the one who pushed the brand’s name into the public eye. Adi designed the shoes, and Rudy got them into the hands of the best athletes. Together, they built the business — and it was going well.

But then, something changed: World War II. Germany’s war policies and the tension in the country began to push the brothers apart. In 1936, Jesse Owens, an African-American athlete, wore their shoes while winning four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics, defying Nazi ideals. The world took notice of Dassler shoes, and the brothers’ company skyrocketed into fame.

However, with fame came trouble. The war had split the brothers’ loyalty, and after the war ended, they found themselves facing a tribunal to see which Germans had supported the Nazis. Both brothers tried to pin the blame on each other, but neither was truly guilty. But that was the turning point. After the war, their relationship was never the same. The brothers started fighting over control of the company, and soon their personal rivalry exploded.

The tension between Adi and Rudy grew so intense that it split their town in two. They no longer worked together, and the company was divided. Adi Dassler decided to form his own company, Adidas (a combination of his first and last name). Meanwhile, Rudy Dassler took his share and started his own company — which he named Puma. The town of Herzogenaurach became divided into two camps: Adidas fans and Puma fans. It wasn’t just a business rivalry; it became a battle for pride. People from the town even avoided each other based on which brand they wore.

This wasn’t just sibling rivalry at the family dinner table; it was a global war. Both brothers obsessed over outdoing each other, using athlete endorsements and sponsorships as their weapons. They gave shoes to athletes around the world, and this intense competition fueled the rise of sportswear culture. It was no longer just about making shoes; it was about who could have the biggest athletes wearing their brand.

Then came the most famous athlete in the world at the time: Pele. When the World Cup was coming up, both Adidas and Puma wanted Pele to wear their shoes. But neither company could land him, and they both refused to give him their shoes. It was clear that the brothers wouldn’t let anything — even the biggest athlete in the world — come between them. But when Pele tied his shoes during the World Cup, the camera zoomed in and revealed that he was wearing Puma. The Adidas side was furious.

The battle between the brands reached crazy heights. Adidas and Puma tried to outdo each other with massive athlete signings — from Muhammad Ali to entire national football teams — trying to get everyone to wear their shoes. The rivalry became so intense that it caught the attention of investors around the world. While the brothers were fighting, Nike came in and took over the sportswear market by revolutionizing marketing and product design. Nike became the brand of choice, capitalizing on the chaos between Adidas and Puma.

But the rivalry didn’t end there. Even after their deaths, Adi and Rudy Dassler ensured their feuding continued. Both requested to be buried on opposite sides of the cemetery in Herzogenaurach, ensuring that their rivalry would never be put to rest.

Today, Adidas and Puma are two of the biggest brands in the world, and their rivalry is still alive in the hearts of fans and the sportswear industry. It all started with two brothers, one vision, and a split that changed the game. The Puma vs Adidas saga shows just how far family rivalries can go and how competition can fuel innovation — and destruction — in ways we can’t always predict.

So, next time you see someone wearing Adidas or Puma, just remember: it’s not just about shoes. It’s about a family feud that turned into one of the most legendary business battles of all time. Puma vs Adidas — a rivalry that still e

choes in the world of sportswear today.