40. New Balance Furon V7+ x Aime Leon Dore, 2024
Stars who wore them: Bukayo Saka
39. Adidas Supernova, 2003
Stars who wore them: Patrick Vieira, Frank Lampard
The Adidas Supernova is an intriguing football boot. It was a standalone release, with no upgrade or rework later on, designed to capitalise on the Predator Mania's success, only go more minimal.
These black and silver beauties were short-lived but ultimately the last "proper old-school football boots" before Adi revisited the Copa range. A moment in time, indeed.
38. Nike, What The Mercurial, 2016
Stars who wore them: N/A
What do you do when you've made dozens of iconic Mercurial boots? Well... put them together into one product. Nike have done this kind of thing with shirts, too - Arsenal and Manchester City both got mash-up kits when they left the American manufacturer - and this special edition boot brings back all kinds of memories.
37. Lotto Zhero Gravity, 2006
Stars who wore them: Luca Toni, Andriy Shevchenko, Cafu
Lotto is a brand that players of the 80s would love - so when the company started a research and development centre to make a new "Zhero Gravity" boot, you could understand if eyes rolled. In a brilliant feat of innovation, though, Lotto managed to produce the very first laceless football boots in history, a phenomenon that has since stuck around.
These white/gold efforts were beautiful and one we still look back on fondly.
36. Adidas F50 Elite Messi Trifuno Dorado, 2024
35. Nike Mercurial Vapor X, 2014
Stars who wore them: Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden Hazard
Sometimes, the colour of a football boot is enough to spark memories. That's true of 2014's coral Vapors which were worn by the great and the good in the blazing Brazilian sunshine. The low-cut version to the Mercurial Superfly, the Vapors were slightly more understated but arguably looked even better for it.
Lighter than ever, they certainly stand alongside most Vapors since. Bravo.
34. Adidas Predator, 1994
Stars who wore them: Paul Gascoigne, John Collins
Back in '94, Adidas brought out the first ever Predator. By adding rubber parts to the upper of the studs for improved power and finesse, the German brand had invented something that had never been seen before.
John Collins scored the first-ever goal in the Predators, bagging against Rangers for Celtic in the Old Firm Derby. It is now a cornerstone of the football boot world.
33. Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly II, 2010
Most iconic colourway: Silver/orange
Other colourways: -
Stars who wore them: Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba
The silver and orange colourway is iconic now. These were first shown to the world in an incredible Nike ad featuring Roger Federer, the greatest players on earth and Homer Simpson. They don't look as good now as they did then - they look better.
32. Adidas F50 Adizero, 2010
Stars who wore them: Lionel Messi, Arjen Robben, Dani Alves, David Villa
Pretty soon enough, the F50 just became Messi's boot. That's what happens when you're that good - but also when you hold one aloft after netting in a Champions League final. This iteration was particularly nice with the three stripes wrapping around the heel.
31. New Balance Furon Bambaly Edition, 2018
Sadio Mane
What's so nice about the Bambaly Furon from New Balance is that it pays tribute to a star who you wouldn't usually see custom boots for. Messi and Ronaldo have had their special editions - and Sadio Mane getting one is a lovely touch. These are quintessentially Senegalese. They still look awesome.
