Champions League Boot Spotting - Retro Edition II

Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
  Nike Mercurial Vapor III

Samuel Eto'o (Barcelona)
  Puma v1.06

The Gunners captain was one of the most inspired players in the world at this time and wore the highly regarded Nike Mercurial Vapor III. It also wouldn't be long  before Henry joined the Catalans, where he will return with Barca to Arsenal this season.

It was the foul just outside the area on Eto'o that resulted in Lehman's sending off, as the Cameroon striker was (and arguably still is) Puma's biggest name and wore the super-light Puma v1.06 football boots, scoring the equaliser to add to his 5 goals already in the competition.

Ashley Cole (Arsenal)
  adidas F50.6 Tunit

Ronaldinho  (Barcelona)
  Nike Air Legend 10R

The controversial left back was one of the main F50 icons as adidas launched the TUNIT concept. Cole's Red/White F50.6's would perfectly match the home kit, and continued the trend of Red boots that were so common during this Final.

Everyone was talking about the Mercurial Brazilian, who sported the customised 10R White and Gold version of the Nike Air Legend football boots during the Final. Despite having a relatively quiet final (by his own standards at least) Ronaldinho  was for many still the player of the season.

Sol Campbell (Arsenal)
  adidas World Cup

Juliano Belletti (Barcelona)
  Nike AZT 90 III

Campbell scored the opening goal with a towering header, wearing the adidas World Cup football boots. Now back for another spell with the Gunners, he's still sporting the same reliable classics even now, a true testament to the boots.

Scorer of the winning goal, Belletti was another sub sent on to change the game and he certainly did so, weaing the Nike AZT 90 III football boots, by converting Larsson's cross to score through the legs of sub keeper Almunia and seal victory.

Cesc Fabgreas (Arsenal)
  Nike Air Legend

Henrik Larsson (Barcelona)
  adidas Predator Absolute

Wearing the Nike Air Legend football boots, the young Spaniard played against his old club for the first time. Perhaps not  quite have the impact he and the Gunners fans would have hoped for, after his memorable performance against Real Madrid earlier in the tournament.

His final game for Barca won him a Champions League medal, coming on as a sub to set up Eto'o for the equalising goal and Bellitti for the winner. Wearing the adidas Predator Absolute football boots, it is widely regarded that Larsson's introduction was the game changer for Barca.

Robert Pires (Arsenal)
  Puma v1.06

Deco (Barcelona)
  Umbro Elite X-Lite

Pires had ended the season as joint top scorer for the Gunners, but his last game for Gunners will be remembered as the sacrifice substitute once keeper Lehman had been sent off. As one of the Gunners most inspired players, wearing the Puma v1.06 boots, could the Final have had a different outcome if "Bobby" Pires had still been on the pitch...?

The minature  midfielder was an inspiration at the Nou Camp, and wearing the Umbro Elite football boots could often been seen pulling the strings of the Barca midfield. He played alongside Mark Van Bommel and Edmilson during the final.

Freddie Ljungberg (Arsenal)
          Puma v1.06

Carlos Puyol (Barcelona)
          Nike AZT 90 III

Swedish attacker Ljungberg was another high-profile Puma player, also sporting the v1.06 football boots during the Final. However, unique to Ljungberg in the Final he switched from the Red version to White for the second half.

The Barca captain was another champion of the AZT 90 III boots, wearing the uniform-matching Comet Red/White colourway. Highly respected and peerless in the Final, Puyol was the latest Barcelona captain to get his hands on the biggest of club trophies.

Gilberto Silva (Arsenal)
          Nike AZT 90 III

Giovanni Van Bronckhorst (Barcelona)
          Lotto Zhero Evolution

The dependable and solid midfielder had a football boot to match in the Nike AZT 90 III, Before the introduction of the Laser series, these were Nike's power boots and were intended as a solid yet comfortable choice for players all over the pitch.

Another player lining up against former employers, Van Bronckhorst wore the first generation of the Lotto Zhero Evolution boots, the series pioneered by the lace-less Zhero Gravity. He was also the only Barcelona player to feature in every match of this successful campaign.