Closer Look | Messi Receives Modified Adidas Nemeziz 2018-19 Boots
Aug 13, 2018, by Pat
Update: Pictures from Sunday's 2018 Supercopa de España match perfectly show off Messi's modified Adidas Nemeziz 18.1 football boots featuring a burrito-style tongue (new pictures via @soccerbible).
In Detail | Modified Adidas Nemeziz Messi 18.1 Boots
Update: New pictures of Messi's custom Adidas Nemeziz 18.1 2018 World Cup cleats perfectly show off that he received a modified Nemeziz with a 'burrito tongue' instead of a tongue-less design.
Leo Messi himself has joined the likes of Marcelo and Mo Salah in switching to the still unreleased Energy Mode pack / World Cup collection. Today, he shared a picture of his custom pair of Nemeziz Messi 18 cleats.
Messi's Nemeziz 18 boots are not quite like the pair that'll be available to buy in stores shortly. Similar to what Adidas did with the Nemeziz Messi 17, Messi's very own Nemeziz 18 football boots have a 'burrito tongue' instead of the usual one-piece upper construction.
Apart from that, they come with a number of personalization features on the heel. For example, the name and birth date of Messi's son Mateo is printed on the instep rear of the left shoe, while the name of his wife, Antonella, and his shirt number take the same place on the right.
Should Adidas release a 'burrito' style Nemeziz, as worn by Leo Messi? Drop us a line below, and check out the Boot Calendar to see all leaks and release dates.
Al-Ula FC 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Italian sportswear brand Kappa and Saudi club Al-Ula FC have officially launched their new home and away kits for the 26-27 season. Both designs incorporate custom graphic textures alongside the club's "Arabian Leopards" tagline printed on the upper back collar.
The Al-Ula 26-27 home kit features a deep navy blue base paired with elegant gold detailing for the logos, sponsor prints, and collar trim. A subtle tonal pattern decorates the front panel, giving the jersey a refined aesthetic.
Complementing the home kit, the Al-Ula 26-27 away shirt comes in a sand white colorway featuring a classic polo collar. Deep blue accents appear on the Kappa logo, crest, and shoulder panels, which showcase patterned striping across the sleeves.
AD Mérida 26-27 Away Kit Released
Spanish Primera Federación club AD Mérida and technical supplier Macron have officially launched the club's new away kit for the 26-27 season. Named 'Aura', the new second shirt was unveiled alongside the club's new home strip during a presentation event at the historic Templo de Diana in Mérida.
The AD Mérida 26-27 away jersey features an eye-catching design built on a dark base, covered in a vibrant geometric teal line pattern across the front torso. Black sleeves, collar trim, and subtle teal accents on the sleeve cuffs complement the detailed body graphics. White branding, including the Macron logo and front sponsor text, completes the look.
NK Veres Rivne 26-27 Home, Away & Third Kits Released
Ukrainian Premier League club NK Veres Rivne and Spanish sportswear brand Kelme have officially launched the team's new home, away, and third kits for the 26-27 season. The release marks a return to Kelme for the Ukrainian side following a single season wearing kits produced by their in-house brand, Buntar.
The new collection brings custom looks for each kit, unified by sponsor logos from Betking that adapt seamlessly to match the color scheme of each shirt. The 26-27 home kit sports a vibrant red look featuring an abstract tonal geometric pattern, accompanied by black trim on the collar and sleeve cuffs. The away kit presents a clean white base with subtle horizontal line graphics and a sharp black traditional collar.
Rounding out the collection is a striking purple third kit featuring dynamic diagonal pattern details on the front, complemented by black shorts. All three kits feature the Ukrainian flag patch prominently placed on the upper chest above the club crest and technical sponsor logos.
Emelec 2026 Third Kit Released
Ecuadorian club CS Emelec and adidas have officially launched the club's new 2026 third kit. Marking the first time in twenty years that Emelec will wear green, the eye-catching shirt breaks away from the team's traditional blue identity while retaining key historic design motifs.
The Emelec 2026 third strip comes in a dark petroleum green base color, highlighted by adidas' signature three stripes in white on the shoulders and light teal graphics across the front. A subtle diagonal cross-band pattern covers the chest, giving a nod to Emelec's classic sash design. The front of the jersey features the logo of SOLCA (Sociedad de Lucha Contra el Cáncer), continuing a special partnership to raise cancer awareness.
The kit is completed with dark green shorts and socks featuring matching teal and white details. Emelec will debut the new third kit in their upcoming LigaPro fixture against Aucas at the Estadio George Capwell, with replica shirts priced at US$99.99 for men and US$84.99 for women.
Manchester City Reveal Special Asia Tour Nameset in Hong Kong
As part of their pre-season trip to Asia, Manchester City have unveiled a special custom font and nameset during their event in Hong Kong. The unique printing style was showcased at the club's Harbour Pitch pop-up activation, giving local supporters an exclusive custom option for the 26-27 home kit.
The special font features a bold, rounded bubbly silhouette with stylized graphic cutouts integrated directly into the numbers, including skull motifs and exaggerated curves. Displayed on jerseys for players such as Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki, and Antoine Semenyo, the playful design offers a distinct creative departure from standard Premier League and cup competition typefaces.
This limited tour nameset is available at official event pop-ups in Hong Kong during the 26-27 Asia Tour. While it serves primarily as a special retail customization option for local fans, it adds a unique collectible twist to City's summer pre-season campaign in Asia.
