FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014 Award - Football Boots Battle
Oct 28, 2014, by Chris
- Ballon d’Or Nominees: The 2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or shortlist includes 23 male nominees, with a strong presence from Real Madrid players.
- Dominant Brands: Adidas and Nike are the dominant football boot suppliers for the nominees, with Adidas supplying 12 players and Nike 10.
- Popular Boot Models: The Adidas F50 Adizero is the most popular boot model, worn by 8 nominees, while Nike Magista and Mercurial are also featured.
FIFA and France Football today announced the candidates for the 2014 FIFA Ballon d’Or. Traditionally, the big brands Adidas and Nike battle to supply the soccer cleats for the best players of the world, while only Puma managed to sign one player of the 2014 Ballon d’Or Shortlist. We take a detailed look at the football boots worn by 2014 FIFA Ballon d’Or Nominees in association with Football Boots DB.
The Football Boots Brands of the 2014 Ballon d’Or Nominees
This infographic shows the boots brands of the 23 Ballon d’Or nominees.
The Ballon d’Or Shortlist includes 23 male nominees for the 2014 FIFA Ballon d’Or, who predominantly wear Adidas and Nike Boots. Six German players have been named on the 23-men shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d’Or award, including 5 Adidas players as well as Nike Magista Obra player Mario Götze, who scored the World Cup winning goal.
2014 Champions League winners Real Madrid have a strong presence among the names, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos, Sergio Ramos and James Rodríguez on the list to win the 2014 Ballon d’Or. Lionel Messi, Neymar and Arjen Robben are also on the list for the 2014 FIFA Ballon d’Or.
In total, Adidas supplies the football boots for 12 Ballon d’Or nominees, while 10 players of the 2014 FIFA Ballon d’Or Shortlist are wearing Nike Football Boots, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Ibrahimović. Yaya Toure is the only player wearing boots not from the 3 stripes and the Swoosh.
The most popular football boots of the 2014 Ballon d’Or Shortlist is the Adidas F50 Adizero Cleat, worn by 8 nominees (Bale, Benzema, Diego Costa, Messi, Müller, Robben, James Rodríguez, Schweinsteiger). 5 players lace up in the Nike Magista Cleats (Courtois, Götze, Iniesta, Mascherano, Pogba), while the Nike Mercurial Boot is worn by Cristiano Ronaldo, Ribéry and Ibrahimović.
The Adidas Adipure 11pro is worn by Phillip Lahm and Toni Kroos, while the Adidas Nitrocharge (Manuel Neuer), Adidas Predator (Angel di María), Nike Hypervenom (Neymar), Nike Tiempo Legend (Sergio Ramos) and the Puma evoPOWER (Yaya Toure) are only worn by one player, respectively.
Check out all 2014 Nike, Adidas and Puma Football Boots in our Boot Calendar as well as detailed football boot statistics on footballbootsdb.com.
Eldera Royal Charleroi 26-27 Home Kit Released - No More Declathon
The new Royal Charleroi home kit was released today. It is made by French sportswear brand Eldera, officially replacing Decathlon ahead of the 2026-27 season. This change follows the announcement of a five-year partnership between the Belgian club and Eldera in April 2026.
The Eldera Royal Charleroi 2026-27 home shirt boasts a striking gradient stripes design.
SC Eltersdorf 26-27 Centenary Kit Released
German Regionalliga Bayern side SC Eltersdorf has revealed its new centenary anniversary kit for the 2026-27 season. Made by Adidas, the special edition shirt celebrates the 100th anniversary of the club, which was founded in 1926.
The Adidas SC Eltersdorf 2026-27 centenary jersey introduces a commemorative design to mark the historic milestone. It features details that pay homage to a century of football for the regional German club.
The new SC Eltersdorf 2026-27 centenary strip will be worn during the upcoming Regionalliga Bayern campaign as the team marks its 100th year in existence.
Pedro Neto Cuts Holes in His Nike Mercurial Boots
During the 2026 World Cup match between Portugal and Spain, Pedro Neto caught the attention of fans after one of his pink Nike Mercurial boots appeared to be destroyed following a tackle. The winger showed the torn heel collar to the referee and briefly played on before swapping his footwear. However, spectators quickly noticed that his replacement pair featured also a hole in the heel.
However, what some did not see was that the hole of the broken shoes was different from the replacement boot. His first pair of Nike Mercurial boots got torn in the pre-cut hole, apparently making it not stable enough to play with them, so he got the replacement shoe with the custom hole.
The pre-cut hole is a specific customization used by professional players to relieve pressure and pain caused by Haglund's deformity. This medical condition involves a bony enlargement on the back of the heel that can lead to severe friction and blisters when rubbing against the stiff heel counter of modern football boots. By cutting out a section of the upper, Neto removes the direct contact point, allowing him to play comfortably without aggravating the sensitive area.
Neto is not the first high-profile player to make this exact modification to his boots. Other stars, such as Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino, have previously been spotted with similar cutouts in the heel area of their footwear to manage the same condition.
Pogoń Szczecin 26-27 Third Kit Released
Polish Ekstraklasa club Pogoń Szczecin has officially unveiled its new 2026-27 third kit, made by Capelli Sport. The launch follows closely on the heels of the club's "Royal Baltic" away kit, which was released just a day prior.
The Capelli Pogoń Szczecin 2026-27 third shirt introduces a "Vert Émeraude" (emerald green) colorway. Themed around "Miasto wody i zieleni" (City of water and greenery), the design is directly inspired by the natural landscapes and waterways of Szczecin. This continues the club's strategy for the new season of highlighting its regional identity in Western Pomerania.
The new Capelli Pogoń Szczecin 2026-27 third kit is currently available for purchase through the club's official online store.
FC Rapid 1923 26-27 Away & Third Kits Released
The new FC Rapid 1923 away and third jerseys for the 2026-27 season have been released. Made by Kappa, the new shirts will be worn by the Bucharest-based club in the upcoming Romanian Liga I campaign.
The Kappa FC Rapid 1923 2026-27 away and third shirts introduce bespoke designs for the team. Kappa continues its partnership with Rapid, providing custom looks for their matches on the road and alternative fixtures.
The new Kappa FC Rapid 1923 2026-27 away and third kits are expected to be officially launched in the coming weeks, ahead of the new Romanian top-flight season.
ETO FC Győr 26-27 Kits Released
Hungarian champions ETO FC Győr have officially unveiled their new kits for the 2026-27 season. The jerseys are made by Macron, marking the second year of their partnership after the club transitioned from long-time supplier Adidas ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
The new ETO FC Győr 2026-27 kits feature the club's traditional green and white color scheme. Macron's designs maintain the classic identity of the team while introducing modern templates and subtle detailing. The kits were initially shared across social media, giving fans a closer look at the fresh designs ahead of the upcoming season.
ETO FC Győr will debut their 2026-27 Macron kits as they compete in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I and prepare for their UEFA Champions League qualifying campaign. The new jerseys will be available for purchase through the club's official channels and their retail partner Absolute Teamsport.
Al-Hilal 26-27 Home & Away Kits Leaked - Real Pictures
Footy Headlines can leak 2 real pictures of the new Al-Hilal 26-27 home & away kits, which will be released soon. Big thanks to @Leosport1_.
The home kit 's design incorporates the club's traditional 'Blue Intense' primary color, enhanced by an eye-catching tonal wavy graphic pattern across the front.
The new away kit features a fresh design in white, sky blue, and navy, with a striking light blue swirling graphic pattern creating a dynamic visual effect on the front.
CSKA 1948 Sofia 26-27 Home, Away & Third Kits Released
Bulgarian First Professional Football League side CSKA 1948 Sofia has officially launched its new home, away, and third kits for the 2026-27 season. The collection is manufactured by German brand Jako, continuing the partnership between the club and the sportswear company.
The CSKA 1948 Sofia 2026-27 kits combine the club's traditional identity with a modern athletic design. The home shirt features the classic red base associated with the team, while the away and third jerseys offer distinct alternative colorways for the upcoming campaign. According to the club, the new Jako shirts are crafted from high-quality materials to ensure maximum comfort and functionality on the pitch.
The CSKA 1948 Sofia 2026-27 home, away, and third kits are now available to purchase through the club's official online store. The release completes the team's lineup as they prepare for the start of the new domestic season in Bulgaria.
Belgium Introduce American Football-Inspired Lineup Graphic at 2026 World Cup
The Belgian national team has caught the attention of fans and kit enthusiasts during the 2026 World Cup with their unique lineup graphics. Their latest design, highlighted by football, features a striking American football theme, serving as a fitting nod to the tournament's North American host nations.
Rather than a standard list or traditional pitch layout, the new graphic presents the starting XI in a style reminiscent of an NFL playbook or broadcast graphic. This follows a series of highly praised, creative lineup announcements from the Belgian camp throughout the tournament, which have stood out for their distinctive typography and layout.
The decision to incorporate American football elements adds a localized touch to their media presence for the 2026 World Cup.
Outstanding Belgium 2026 World Cup Lineup Graphics - Footy Headlines