Top 10 Football Boot Stories of 2019

The 2019 boot market was incredibly active, with brands competing fiercely through new colorways, brand launches, and iconic remakes. Several releases dropped simultaneously, making it hard to keep up. A host of celebrated remakes sent fans into a frenzy, some selling out in minutes while others remained available. We look back at the biggest boot stories that made headlines throughout the year.

The Beckham x Zidane Collection

In March, David Beckham and Zinédine Zidane teamed up to create one of the most iconic remake packs in the game. The collection included the modern Predator 19+ “Gold” Beckham X Zidane, plus the Predator Precision Beckham ’01 and the Predator Accelerator Zidane ’98. adidas launched the exclusive limited “25 Years of Predator” Pack to celebrate the history of the iconic silo.

Predator 19+ “Gold” Beckham X Zidane
Predator Precision Beckham ’01
Predator Accelerator Zidane ’98

Megan Rapinoe Special Ballon d’Or Boots

After leading the USWNT to the World Cup title and winning her first Ballon d’Or award, Nike celebrated Megan Rapinoe with a special commemorative boot built on the Nike Mercurial Vapor 13 silo. The pink and gold colorway draws from Rapinoe’s hair color and the trophies she has won. Her first and last name appear prominently on the lateral sides, with “Just Do It” on the medial side. The heel counter and sockliner feature the four stars representing the US women’s national team.

Earlier in the year, Nike also created custom boots for Alex Morgan’s 100th international goal. Morgan received a pair of the PhantomVNM, alongside 100 super exclusive pairs released in the US.

This Year In Remakes

Several incredible throwback releases hit the market in 2019, feeding fans with nostalgia. The T90 Laser 1 remake led the charge, bringing back the power boot feel. In addition to the 25 Years Of Predator, adidas introduced an X506 remake, a new take on the COPA, and the final remake of the year: the Predator Mania Red.

Nike T90 Laser 1 remake
adidas 25 Years Of Predator
adidas X506 F50+ remake
adidas Predator Mania “Red”
adidas COPA 70Y

Nike Take On Camo

In May, Nike dropped a Camo-style release on the feet of players like Virgil van Dijk. The boot underneath the distorted pattern was the Tiempo Legend silo. The 3D-style black design hid key details and became a hit, leading Nike to release them as a limited edition. It ranked among the best releases of the year.

New Brands and Boots

Two new brands entered the US market in 2019, plus an established brand launched indoor shoes. Unozero and Legacy both dropped new releases within weeks of each other. Senda released their indoor shoe after a successful Kickstarter campaign. Each brand focused on traditional leather uppers and intricate detailing. Unozero also became the official boot partner of the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL), suggesting more to come in 2020.

Unozero Modelo 1
Legacy Blanc
Senda USHUAIA PRO

“Victory” World Cup Boots

The women’s game saw significant progress in boot options. Nike released the Victory Pack for the World Cup, followed by the World Cup “Victory” Pack celebrating the US women’s victory. All USWNT Nike athletes received commemorative four-star boots. The World Cup Victory Pack features a star emblazoned with a flag-inspired background and a golden modification of the gray Victory Pack boots worn during the tournament.

Nike Victory Pack
Nike World Cup “Victory” Pack

New Balance x soccer.com

For the 25th anniversary of SOCCER.COM’s website, New Balance delivered a special edition Tekela v2. The design uses Risk Red and Silver to symbolize shared values between the family-owned, American-born brands. Intricate detailing includes the words “innovate” and “inspire” on the soleplates. As a nod to the founders’ parents, their initials appear on either aglet (lace tip).

New Balance 25th Anniversary Pack

GLITCH Retired

The 93rd and final version of GLITCH dropped in October. adidas ended the lifecycle of the interchangeable boot pack with a design inspired by Greek mythology, as a tribute to modern-day football gods. GLITCH was never officially available in the US, despite rumors of a 2018 World Cup introduction. Where adidas goes next remains unknown.

Limited Edition Releases

A host of limited edition releases in 2019 brought something unique to the market, though some were less accessible due to high prices. Key releases include:

adidas X99.1
Puma FUTURE “Grizi-10-Years”
Mizuno Morelia Neo II “Beta”
adidas Nemeziz 19+ LE ADV
Nike Mercurial Vapor “Tech Craft”
adidas Predator 19.1 Leather
adidas Nemeziz Spiderman
Nike Mercurial Superfly 7 CR “Shuai”
New Balance Furon v5 “Maagum”

Nike Change Direction (sort of)

Late in 2019, Nike introduced the Mercurial “Dream Speed #001.” This player-wide release placed Cristiano Ronaldo in a non-signature boot for the first time in a while, though he had worn others occasionally. Each boot in the series features a unique interpretation of speed, unveiled one at a time across several seasons. The first edition follows the theme of the DNA of speed, with technical details like perforation patterns, registration marks, crop lines, color codes, a scale ruler, and other graphic elements. The bold blue colorway takes cues from blueprints.

Additionally, Kylian Mbappé received his own custom release: a green and gold design celebrating his home district of Bondy. Raised text on the gold Swoosh reads Nike x Mbappé x Bondy.

Nike Mercurial Dream Speed
Nike Mercurial Superfly 7 Bondy

The 10 Biggest Boot Stories of 2019 football guide
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