Global Football Boots Spotting - 19/03/12

Banel Nicolita (Saint-Etienne) Nike Mercurial Vapor 8

It's the boot everyone's talking about at the moment, so of course we begin this week's edition of boot spotting with the new Nike Mercurial Vapor 8 football boots. Spotted over the weekend being worn by Saint-Etienne's speedy winger Nicolita, he might not be Nike's first choice to wear the boots ahead of launch, but it did show how eye-catching the boots are on pitch.

Tobias Schlauderer (Jahn Regensburg) Pele Sports 1970

This is an interesting one to us, because despite the launch of their completely innovative Pele Sports Trinity 3E football boots, players are still wearing the 1970's. However, could this be because the 1970 is very similar to how the adidas Predator used to be, which is now a lightweight boot range, so perhaps players like Schlauderer are preferring the older more heavy duty boot.

Mikele Leigertwood (Reading) adidas adiPower Predator

Since being launched these blackout adidas adipower's have been flying off the shelves, despite not being a player led colourway but there's a distinct coolness about a blacked-out boot. Also thinking adidas, a blackout tends to signify the end of a boot range so we could be looking at the last version of the revolutionary adipower Predator.

Marouane Fellaini (Everton) Nike Tiempo Legend Elite

Fellaini is not the first player we've seen wearing these distinctive socks, which have been causing some debate in the football community. We've also seen Newcastle's Cheik Tiote sporting these white trainer socks with the pattern down the heel.

Nicolas Anelka (Shanghai Shenhoa) adidas F50 adizero Custom

Anelka looks to have been busy designing his own football boots, since making the move to China. Already we've seen Anelka in some custom Blue/Electricity adizero's, and now he's designed a sleek looking pair of Black and Red adidas F50 adizero miCoach football boots.

Ndumba Makeche (Perth Glory) Nike Mercurial Superfly II

As everyone prepares to move into the latest version of the Mercurials - the Vapor 8's - Perth Glory's Makeche is still sporting his pair of Vapor Superfly II football boots. Not to be swayed by the more modern designs we've seen since Makeche's boots were released, he is clearly a fan of the much debated NikeSense stud and Flywire technology.

Sandro Boschker (Twente) adidas adiPower Predator Custom

Sandro Boschker was wearing a custom pair of adiPower's during FC Twente's game with Feyenoord. As we understand the boots were customised to celebrate his 550th professional game, and were submitted to us by SoccerBible user gizm0mar.

Julien Escude (Sevilla) adidas adiPure IV Custom

More custom football boots on show, as Sevilla's Julien Escude was spotted by a host of SoccerBible users against Barcelona in some unique adiPure IV's. A great compliment to the Sevilla kit, Escude's all White adiPure's with Red and Black detailing matched the Sevilla colours perfectly.  

Mitch Cooper (Gold Coast United) Pantofola d'Oro Lazzarini

When it comes to looking the part on pitch and in your team football kit, we think Mitch Cooper has got the right idea. It's a unique boot choice to see a pair of Pantofola d'Oro's appear down under, but the Blue Lazzarini's he has chosen look great on pitch and match the Gold Coast colours.

Jose Nunez (Club Libertad) Nike Mercurial Superfly CR7 III

This still poses an interesting question for us, as a professional player would you still wear a boot if you liked the look of them, but knew they had been designed for another player? Clearly this isn't an issue for Nunez who is a fan of the CR7's, and has added his own little touch by changing the laces. 

Keon Daniel (Philadelphia Union) adidas adipure 11Pro

Surprisingly, we are still yet to see the likes of Frank Lampard, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Xabi Alonso make the move into the new adipure 11Pro football boots. But having a look at Philadelphia Union's Keon Daniel, shows just how clean and classy the boots look on pitch, so it's a bit of a mystery why the lead players aren't supporting the boots. 

Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid) adidas adiPower Predator Custom

Last time Diarra appeared for Real Madrid he was wearing the standard Black/Red/White versions of the adiPower Predators. So perhaps there is a contract dispute or a move to a rival brand that has caused Lass to black his boots out. Alternatively, he could just be a fan of all black boots so perhaps someone just needs to inform him they are now available!