New year, same Boot Spotting, bringing you the best of the new releases, special editions, throwback classics and customised creations on the feet of players from across the globe. Let’s see what caught our eye this week…
Achraf Hakimi (Inter Milan) adidas X Ghosted+ PF
Combining the speed of the X Ghosted with the fastest creature on the planet, adidas dropped this sublime special edition as their closing statement for 2020 for the silo. Inter fullback Achraf Hakimi wore them in Inter's 6-2 win over Crotone, scoring the last of the bunch.
Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund) Nike Mercurial Vapor XIII
In honour of his recent Golden Boy award, Nike gave Erling Haaland a special pair of customised Nike Mercurial Vapor XIII, that featured a black base with golden embellishments, reminiscent of 2019's 'Black Lux' pack. The Norwegian wore them in Dortmund's 2-0 win over Wolfsburg this weekend.
Arthur (Juventus) adidas Predator Absolute 20
Coming a day too late for Christmas, adidas dropped the 'Eternal Class' pack, which saw the pairing of crisp white renditions of the Predator Absolute and the Copa Mundial. And it was the former that Juve's Brazilian midfielder, Arthur, opted to wear when he came off the bench in his side's 4-1 demolition of Udinese.
Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich) PUMA Ultra 1.1
Kingsley Coman is nearing his long-awaited return after injury, and as he upped his training he also changed his boots, switching from his usual Nike Mercurial to a blacked out pair of PUMA Ultra, hinting at a possible end of contract with the Swoosh.
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) Next-Gen New Balance Furon
Eberechi Eze becomes the latest young star to slip into the New Balance Furon, wearing what appears to be a blacked out next generation version of the boot in Crystal Palace's 2-0 win over Sheffield United. Looks to be a good match too, after the attacker scored following a mazy dribble that started in his own half. Positive first impressions.
Chuba Akpom (Middlesbrough) Nike Mercurial Superfly V
Chuba Akpom rolled the clock back five years to 2016, lacing up in the Nike Mercurial Superfly V Heritage iD: CR7 Chapter 3. The design of the boot was a reincarnation of the Mercurial Vapor 1 worn by Ronaldo on 6th August 2003 in his final appearance for Sporting Lisbon against Manchester United. But here, Akpom scored the third in them in Boro's 3-1 win over Wycombe.
Hugo Mallo (Celta Vigo) adidas Nemeziz .1
Making the switch from his usual Nike Mercurial, Celta fullback Hugo Mallo played against Huesca in the headliner from the recent adidas 'Precision to Blur' pack, the Nemeziz .1, suggesting his time with Nike is possibly over.
James Rodriguez (Everton) adidas COPA .1
Another player to switch up his boot selection as he returns from injury, albeit it keeping it in house, James Rodriguez played in the adidas COPA .1 from the 'Precision to Blur' pack. The move catches the eye mostly because it now means Rodriguez has worked his way through the X, Nemeziz and COPA silos. Expect to seem the Colombian in Predators any day now...
Adama Traore (Wolverhampton Wanderers) Nike Mercurial Vapor XIII
Adama Traore enjoys accentuating his raw pace and dribbling ability with a touch of customisation on his feet, usually courtesy of the Nike by You service, but this week he took a new route, getting a blacked out pair personalised by designer Jordan Dawson. The boots see the words "Beast", "Believe" and "It's a process" joined by a wolf's head.
Thiago Alcantara (Liverpool) Nike Phantom VNM
Thiago made his long-awaited return to action this week, and despite having been seen in the adidas COPA in training, he played in the 'Neighbourhood Pack' Nike Phantom VNM. Interesting to see him in this rather than the Mercurial, but this is an older colourway and suggests that the Liverpool midfielder may just be running down his Nike contract before officially moving to the Three Stripes.
Sergio Córdova (Arminia Bielefeld) Nike Hypervenom Phantom III
Rolling things back a few of years to 2018, Sergio Córdova played in his side's 0-1 defeat to Mönchengladbach in the Nike Hypervenom Phantom III "Racer Blue/Metallic Silver” colourway from the 'Always Forward' pack.
Alessandro Diamanti (Western United) Nike Tiempo Legend VIII
Another dose of customisation, this time coming from Down Under as Western United got their A-League campaign underway with a 0-0 draw against Adelaide. Alessandro Diamanti caught the eye by wearing not one, but two pairs of customised Tiempo Legend VIII's in the match.
