Geely Israel Partners with Viral Soccer Game 'Legioner'

Geely Israel, imported and marketed by GEO Mobility, has entered the Israeli gaming scene through an exclusive sponsorship deal with "Legioner," a rapidly popular online soccer management game. Geely will be the sole commercial brand integrated into the game, developed by Gal Bartov. "Legioner" allows users to build a virtual soccer player's career, making decisions that impact their professional path, team transfers, and overall success. Launched just two weeks ago, the game has attracted over 300,000 unique users and seen more than 4 million games played, with over 5 million careers initiated.

The game's unique appeal lies in its scenarios mirroring the realities of Israeli soccer, including issues like salary disputes, questionable supplements, and agent dealings. Bartov aimed to incorporate both the triumphs and less flattering aspects of the local game. The partnership with Geely allows players to choose the brand as a sponsor within their virtual career and select a Geely model to accompany their player.

"Legioner" has quickly built a large and engaged community, which Geely Israel's Marketing Manager, Eyal Amit, sees as a perfect fit for a brand focused on technology and everyday relevance. Gal Bartov noted that Geely aligns with the game's values of innovation and progress while being a familiar and liked brand among Israelis.

This collaboration comes as Geely experiences significant growth. In the first half of 2026, it ranked first in retail passenger vehicle sales in China. In Israel, Geely delivered 5,589 vehicles by the end of August, a 120% increase year-over-year, placing it ninth in the Israeli auto market. Its E5 model is the second best-selling mainstream electric vehicle in Israel.

For Bartov, the game's rapid success brings substantial operational costs. He stated, "I'm losing a lot of money from this; you can imagine what kind of traffic and cloud costs that entails." The sponsorship from Geely is expected to provide a crucial commercial boost to the growing online venture as it continues to expand its user base.