The European football season officially kicks off this month. August is here, and with it comes the latest collection of football boots as brands drop their season openers, players get creative with custom footwear and your usual mixed bag of random sights. Get stuck in.
Santi Cazorla (Arsenal) Puma evoTOUCH
Arsenal continued their 2016/17 season preparations by beating Mexican see Chivas 3-1 at the StubHub Centre in Los Angeles. Santi Cazorla used the outing as a chance to get familiar with his new PUMA evoTOUCH boots, a silo with a launch colourway that flows effortlessly into the brand new Arsenal third strip. Smart.
Troy Deeney (Watford) adidas X 16.1
Watford skipper Troy Deeney looks set to remain at the club heading into the 2016/17 season despite interest from Premier League Champions Leicester City. Deeney, who was the club's top scorer last season was in action against Queens Park Rangers at the weekend wearing the alternative blue/red edition of the adidas X 16.1 boot.
Will Nightingale (AFC Wimbledon) Nike Premier
The Nike Premier is somewhat of an underrated football boot but a modern pre-season crowd-pleaser. Launched only in firm ground soleplates, the collection boasts a number of classic two-toned colourways, including the white/blue design picked up by AFC Wimbledon's Will Nightingale.
Georgina Giddins (Millwall) adidas 11 Pro
Launched on New Year's Eve 2014, the black/slime adidas 11Pro replicated the split design of the SL. The Super Light edition shaved 75g off the original version of the 11Pro but the standard drop still looks sharp on pitch having been spotted on the feet of Millwall player, Georgina Giddins this week.
Zlatan (Manchester United) Nike Mercurial Vapor XI
Zlatan Ibrahimovic finished the season as a free-agent in the sponsorship market. His contract with Nike had expired and the big Swede began wearing all blacked out football boots. A new season and a new club for Zlatan saw him mark his debut for Man United with a goal wearing the Nike Mercurial Vapor XI. Is Ibra about to re-sign with Nike? Or is there another twist in the tale?
Aaron Lennon (Everton) New Balance Furon 2.0
Aaron Lennon also finished the previous season wearing blacked out Nike Mercurial Vapors but the little winger has returned to pre-season with Everton wearing the latest New Balance Furon 2.0. Lennon was clearly in the market for a new brand sponsor and he looks to have bagged it in the shape of New Balance Football and their lightweight speed boot.
Kevin Mirallas (Everton) New Balance Furon 2.0
With New Balance sponsoring Liverpool you'd expect the brand to be tapping up players in the red half of the city but they've taken a jog through Stanley Park to capture two of Everton's tricky wingers in Aaron Lennon and Kevin Mirallas. The Belgian wide man was also laced up in the new Furon 2.0 colourway as Everton took on MK Dons last week.
Eden Hazard (Chelsea) Nike Mercurial Vapor XI
Eden Hazard has jumped the gun this week by becoming the first player to lace up in the new Nike Elite Pack, which is set to officially land on pitch as the new season arrives. Hazard scored twice in his new Nike Mercurial Vapor XI boots, but that wasn't enough to earn Chelsea the win as they slipped to a 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid in Michigan. The full Nike Elite Pack hits shelves on August 16.
Leo Messi (Barcelona) adidas Messi 16.1
Lionel Messi has been spending his pre-season with his Barca chums in sunny Burton-On-Trent. The Barcelona squad arrived at England's St George's Park base for a mini training camp before heading to Dublin to beat Celtic 3-1 at the Aviva Stadium. For Messi, that gave him the chance to switch into the latest adidas 'Speed of Light' 16.1 boot, once again overlooking the lace-covered PUREAGILITY silo.
Jordi Masip (Barcelona) Puma evoPOWER 1.3
Messi's Barca team mate Jordi Masip also used his time in England to get used to his new footwear by sliding into the latest "Red Blast" PUMA evoPOWER 1.3. The Spanish stopper has seen his chances with the first team limited over the past two seasons but started the friendly win over Celtic in Ireland.
