2016 Footy Headlines Boot Awards - Adidas Glitch is the Most Innovative Boot of the Year
Dec 19, 2016, by Chris
Update: The results are in and Adidas' revolutionary Glitch soccer boot model was chosen as the Most Innovative Football Boot 2016 by more than 4000 Footy Headlines readers. It is followed by the laceless Ace 16+ PureControl, another Adidas model, and two Nike cleats, the Magista Obra II and the Mercurial Superfly V. See the full results here and check out more details on all entries below the slideshow.
With the end of the year in sight, we want to summarize up what brought us the year in terms of football boots. And we think there is no better way than asking you, the fans, to choose the most outstanding soccer cleats of the year. Introducing the 2016 Footy Headlines Boot Awards.
The Footy Headlines Boot Awards will be broken down in three categories, with voting for the first one (Most Innovative Football Boot) open from today until Sunday next week. There will be two other categories (Best & Worst Football Boot of The Year), with the Best Football Boot of the Year as the 'ultimate' award.
Most Innovative Football Boot of The Year
The Adidas Ace PureControl, launched in January this year, was the first high-cut football boot with no laces, followed in December by the Ace17+ with Boost technolgy.
After 2015 brought not any remarkable innovations in terms of football boots, 2016 was an awesome year for boot fanatics. Adidas launched two of the biggest innovations of the past decade with the Adidas Glitch (boot with interchangeable upper and sole plate) and the Adidas Ace PureControl (laceless high-cut boot + Boost technology) , while Nike introduced new generations for their Magista and Mercurial boots with many upgrades but without big innovations).
Under Armour introduced the all-new Spotlight, but it will be only next year when the Baltimore-based brand could gain the first place here with the launch of their first laceless soccer cleat (Under Armour Spotlight 2.0 featuring a zip). Puma launched their most innovative football boot of the year, the Puma evoTOUCH, which is the brand's first boot with a sock-like design.
What was the most innovative boot of the year? Let us also know in the comments below if we missed any innovative soccer cleat launched last year and find out all you need to know about each boot and its innovations in our Boot Calendar.
Bayern München 26-27 Oktoberfest Kit Leaked - Full Look - 9 New Official Pictures
We can reveal the full Bayern Munich 2026-2027 Oktoberfest kit, including the shirt, shorts, and socks. The Three Stripes on the shorts use the pattern of the kit.
Manchester City Wear C.P. Company for European Travel
Manchester City have worn exclusive C.P. Company travelwear for their first UEFA Champions League away trip of the 2026-27 season, travelling to face Porto.
C.P. Company has been City's Official Fashionwear Partner since 2024, providing customised off-pitch clothing for European trips and high-profile arrivals. The new “Blue Moon Lens” collection blends C.P. Company's signature black with City's traditional light blue across pieces including the Coach Jacket, Puffer Jacket, polo shirts,...
The collaboration will soon extend from travelwear to the pitch, with Puma and C.P. Company set to release a special Manchester City 2026-27 fourth kit, bringing the Italian label's distinctive design identity to a City shirt.
What do you think of Manchester City's latest C.P. Company travelwear? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
All-New FIFA ASEAN Cup Logo Revealed
The logo for the first FIFA-organized Southeast Asian tournament has been revealed. The design incorporates a colorful, stylized globe depicting the Southeast Asian region.
Our partner, What The Kit, has created a prediction concept mockup of the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup patch, featuring a prominent blue background.
Adidas Predator Y-3 'Tiger' 2026 Boots Leaked - 6 New Images
Footy Headlines can now leak 6 new images of the special Adidas Predator Y-3 'Tiger' 2026 boots. Big thanks to shoptcrampons.
The boots feature an incredibly aggressive and bespoke aesthetic, dominated by a highly detailed, hand-painted-style graphic of a snarling tiger with bared teeth and glowing red eyes across the upper.
Cittadella 26-27 Third Kit Released
Italian side AS Cittadella and technical sponsor Erreà have officially unveiled the club's new third kit for the 2026-27 campaign. Conceived by Erreà Creative Lab, the strip draws its inspiration directly from the iconic medieval defensive walls that surround the historic city.
The Erreà AS Cittadella 26-27 third shirt combines a predominantly black base with an irregular, lived-in texture that mimics the surface of ancient stone. A striking mix of purple, aqua green, and granata accents enlivens the textured graphic across the front, back, and sleeves. The club's crest is rendered in vibrant aqua green embroidery on the chest, complemented by matching Erreà branding and sponsor detailing, while the club's founding year, 1973, is stitched onto the upper back.
Completing the outfield range alongside the previously launched home and away jerseys, the new third kit is now available through the club's and Erreà's official channels.
Isco Makes Champions League History With Fifth Different Spanish Club
Real Betis captain Isco made European history during his side's return to the UEFA Champions League, inspiring Los Verdiblancos to an exciting 3-2 away victory against Lille. By taking the pitch in Betis' opening fixture, the veteran playmaker became the first footballer in history to appear in the Champions League with five different Spanish clubs, having previously featured in the competition for Valencia, Málaga, Real Madrid, and Sevilla.
Beyond his unique journey across Spanish football, Isco enters the 26-27 campaign holding an unmatched distinction: no active player in this season's competition has won more Champions League titles. The midfielder lifted Europe's most coveted trophy five times during his spell with Real Madrid, triumphing in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2022. Betis qualified for the Champions League for the first time in 21 years, and their talisman marked the milestone occasion in style by registering an assist in France to cement his enduring European pedigree.
Inter Milan Wears Sponsorless Kit Against Real Madrid Due to Spanish Gambling Ban
Inter Milan took to the pitch at the Santiago Bernabéu for their UEFA Champions League clash against Real Madrid wearing a completely clean, sponsorless version of their 26-27 home shirt. The usual Betsson.sport logo was entirely missing from the chest, providing fans with a rare and striking old-school look for the Nerazzurri's iconic black and blue stripes.
The temporary alteration was made to comply with Spain's strict advertising laws. Under Royal Decree 958/2020, Spain prohibits gambling and betting operators from featuring on sports jerseys or engaging in promotional partnerships with sports teams. While Betsson operates in Italy under the Betsson.sport label as an infotainment platform to navigate the Italian Dignity Decree, Spanish regulatory authorities enforce a much broader interpretation that disallows the brand entirely. Under UEFA equipment regulations, visiting clubs are required to follow host country laws.
Because of the regulation, Inter prepared a sponsor-free run of shirts specifically for their trip to Madrid, leaving only the Nike Swoosh, club crest, and competition sleeve patches in place. The Betsson.sport branding will return to Inter's kits for their upcoming domestic and European matches where local laws permit it.
