Gyasi Zardes x Messi | The Unique Boot Story of US Soccer Striker Zardes
That's definitely something special. US Soccer striker Gyasi Zardes has been lacing up in all different Adidas Boot silos since June 2015 after he previously wore the Black / Solar Yellow Adidas Predator Boots.
Gyasi Zardes is a 24-year old American soccer player, who currently plays for LA Galaxy in the Major League Soccer and the United States national football team. He received his first international call in early 2015, and scored his first international goal in a friendly against Netherlands on June 5.
Gyasi Zardes' Boot Story
After Adidas released the all-new Adidas Ace, Adidas X and Adidas Messi Boots in May 2015, US striker Gyasi Zardes had a choice to make: either to wear the all-new Adidas X 15.1 Boots or the all-new Adidas Ace 15.1 Boots.
The La Galaxy striker opted for the synthetic version of the Solar Yellow Adidas X 15.1 Cleats, made for players who create chaos on the pitch. Worn by players such as Luis Suarez and Thomas Müller, the Adidas X Boots are the logical choice for any striker.
However, Gyasi Zardes switched to the Black / Solar Yellow Adidas Ace Leather Boots a few weeks later.
Made for players who control the game, the Adidas Ace Cleats are usually worn by goalkeepers, defenders and midfielders, while rather few strikers lace up in Adidas' Control Boot. But that's also nothing really special as various Adidas defenders also lace up in Adidas X Boots.
But shortly after, Gyasi Zardes' Boots caught our attention for the first time. The 24-year Galaxy forward became the first player to debut a blackout version of the Adidas Messi 15.1 Boots.
Featuring the same technologies as the regular colorway, the boots provided by Adidas feature a stealth look to hide any brandings as it's not intended that any professional expect Leo Messi himself laces up in the Adidas Messi 15.1 Soccer Cleats.
Received my new #Messi15 cleats from the greatest himself
So it was quite a surprise when Gyasi Zardes switched to the Metallic Ice Blue launch colorway of the Adidas Messi 15.1 Cleats a few days later, even though he regularly switched between both colorways in the coming weeks.
When Adidas released the new White / Solar Blue Adidas Messi Boots last week, the question arose whether Zardes would switch to the new paint job or stay with the old cleats. And we got a clear answer.
Gyasi Zardes published an image of him with the new Adidas Messi Boots in his hands and the caption:
Unique player, unique boots, unique story. What do you think of Gyasi Zardes Boot Saga, which seems to has finally come to an end? Let us know in the comments below.
Fujieda MYFC 26-27 Kits Released
Japanese J2 League club Fujieda MYFC have officially unveiled their new 2026-27 kits, produced by sportswear brand Gol. Designed under the theme "Merge," the new shirts symbolize the fusion of the ball, boots, players' spirit, fans, and partners uniting for the upcoming season. The collection features bespoke graphic patterns across the home, away, and goalkeeper jerseys, with sponsor logos cleanly integrated throughout the designs. The new Fujieda MYFC 2026-27 kits will be available to purchase starting in late June 2026 via the official J.League online store.
Matsumoto Yamaga 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Japanese J3 League club Matsumoto Yamaga FC have revealed their new 2026-27 home and away kits. The new Adidas Matsumoto Yamaga 2026-27 shirts introduce bespoke designs for the club.
Como 1907 Announce Kit Design Contest
Italian club Como 1907 has launched a new design contest, inviting fans and designers to create a new look for the team. While the official announcement asked supporters to design a t-shirt for Como, it is likely that the club is referring to a football kit, given the context of the post and the reactions from the fanbase.
The club has kept the instructions incredibly open, stating there is no brief, no rules, and no excuses. To enter the competition, fans simply need to create their design, post it on Instagram, and tag the official Como 1907 account.
The announcement has already sparked significant interest online, with numerous supporters sharing their concepts and ideas. Whether the winning design will be produced as an official match kit, a pre-match shirt, or a special edition lifestyle item remains to be seen, but it offers a unique opportunity for fans to leave their mark on the club's visual identity.
FIFA Denies Guillermo Ochoa 2026 World Cup Legacy Patch Over Appearance Rules
Guillermo Ochoa has been denied the chance to wear FIFA's new legacy patch at the 2026 World Cup. Despite being selected for six World Cup tournaments spanning from 2006 to 2026, the Mexican goalkeeper does not meet the strict criteria set by FIFA. The governing body requires players to have made on-pitch appearances in at least five different World Cups to qualify for the special badge.
Ochoa did not play any minutes during the 2006 and 2010 tournaments, meaning he has only registered on-pitch appearances in three World Cups prior to the 2026 edition. Because of this, FIFA officially refused to award him the patch. Other veterans playing in the tournament, such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Manuel Neuer, and Yuto Nagatomo, have received the legacy patch for meeting the five-tournament appearance threshold.
The Mexican Football Federation is reportedly planning to push for a reconsideration of the ruling. If Ochoa features in a match during the 2026 tournament, the federation intends to appeal FIFA's decision in hopes of securing the legacy patch for the veteran goalkeeper.
Yokohama FC 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Japanese J2 League club Yokohama FC have officially released their new Puma 2026-27 home, away, and goalkeeper kits. The new Yokohama FC 26-27 shirts feature an abstract graphic design that represents flow and movement across all the jerseys. The home jersey is predominantly blue, while the away kit is white. The goalkeeper kits complete the collection in red and yellow colorways. The Puma Yokohama FC 2026-27 kits are available to purchase via the club's online store.
