Messi Did Not Break Out Parts Of Sole Plate of Adidas X.Speedflow.1 'El Retorno' Boots
Jun 17, 2021, by Khoi
- Soleplate: Messi did not cut out any part of the soleplate of his Adidas X.Speedflow.1 'El Retorno' boots, the appearance of missing parts was just grass and mud stuck on the sole.
- Custom Features: Messi's boots have a custom burrito-tongue style, a cushioning suede heel liner, and the same stud configuration he used in 2016.
- Personalization: Messi's boots feature the names of his wife and children, their birthdays, the Argentinian flag, and his number 10.
Update: Better pictures reveal that Messi did not cut out parts of the soleplate of his Adidas Messi El Retorno boots - it was just grass/mud from the pitch that stuck on.
However, the Argentinian is wearing a custom studs configuration that is the same as the one from the Adidas Messi 16.1 cleats (very big thanks to @gess_kaja).
In the Copa América match yesterday against Chile, Messi wore a pair of X.Speedflow.1 'El Retorno' with some modification to his liking.
Tech-wise, Messi's pair of 'El Retorno' comes with several differences to the retail version
Modified Adidas X.Speedflow.1 'El Retorno' By Lionel Messi
In terms of tech, Messi is not wearing a one-piece material but, instead, has a burrito-tongue style to it. This is similar to previous custom Nemeziz boots of Messi.
Then heel-liner is not the thin, mesh-based tab found on the retail version, but a cushioning suede material usually found on traditional football boots.
Messi is using the same studs configuration he used in 2016, the one from the Adidas Messi 16.1 soccer cleats.
Messi did not broke out parts of the sole plate
What is strange is that Messi's left shoe appears to come without the center stud in the front area. However, it is just grass stuck on it.
Visually, Messi's pair of 'El Retorno' is identical to the retail version
Visually, Messi's pair of 'El Retorno' is identical to the retail version, except for various custom elements for him. Messi's cleats feature the names of his wife and children, as well as the birthday of the latter, located on the lateral side of each boot.
The right boot shows the names of Thiago and Mateo while the left one displays his wife's and Ciro, the youngest child.
The Argentina flag and his number 10 are found on the insteps.
What do you make of Messi's modified X.Speedflow.1 'El Retorno'? Tell us in the comment.
Adidas Colo-Colo EQT Collection Leaked
Adidas is expanding its 1990s-inspired EQT lifestyle range to South America, with official images of the upcoming Colo-Colo EQT collection leaking online. Following recent retro drops for European giants such as Bayern Munich and Juventus, the Chilean club is set to receive its own heritage capsule steeped in unmistakable nineties football culture. Big thanks to @KamilBerberler.
The centerpiece of the range is a retro shirt dominated by Colo-Colo's traditional white, accented by subtle tonal shadow stripes running vertically down the body. It features oversized three stripes sweeping over the shoulders in bold black and red, paired with a chunky ribbed V-neck collar. Staying true to the era, the classic Adidas wordmark and Trefoil are placed centrally on the chest just above the iconic club crest.
Complementing the jersey, the wider lifestyle capsule includes a color-blocked track jacket, matching track pants, a graphic t-shirt, and a relaxed crewneck sweatshirt. The entire collection maintains the club's sharp black, white, and red palette, combining vintage paneling with modern streetwear silhouettes. The Adidas Colo-Colo EQT collection is slated for release in the coming weeks.
Kit Blunder: Matheus Cunha Wears Inverted Sleeve Badges in Manchester Derby
Manchester United striker Matheus Cunha was spotted sporting an unusual kit detail during Sunday's Manchester derby against Manchester City. Eagle-eyed kit enthusiasts quickly pointed out that the Brazilian forward took to the pitch with his sleeve badges completely reversed on his 26-27 home shirt.
Under standard Premier League kit regulations, the official competition badge and "No Room For Racism" patch must be applied to the player's right sleeve, while the left sleeve is reserved for the club's commercial sleeve partner. On Cunha's long-sleeve jersey, however, the configuration was flipped: the sponsor logo was applied to his right arm, leaving the Premier League badge positioned on his left sleeve.
Side-by-side images comparing Cunha's jersey to teammate Marcus Rashford clearly showed the contrast between the standard layout and Cunha's swapped sleeves. Whether caused by a mix-up in the kit room or an accidental printing error during match preparations, the subtle mistake provided a unique talking point for shirt collectors.
River Plate 26-27 Away Pre-Match Kit Leaked
Official images of the River Plate 26-27 away pre-match kit have surfaced, revealing a clean retro-inspired look produced by Adidas. Following the release of the club's tricolor away strip in August, this warm-up top expands River Plate's heritage-driven collection for the 26-27 season. Big thanks to @KamilBerberler.
The Adidas River Plate 26-27 away pre-match jersey features a crisp white body paired with bold red raglan sleeves and a matching white collar. Emphasizing the classic aesthetic, the shirt showcases the iconic Adidas Trefoil logo in red on the right chest, opposite a vintage circular CARP crest in red on the left. Across the upper back, large red block lettering spells out "RIVER" to complete the minimalist, old-school design. The shirt is paired with white shorts sporting black Three Stripes on the sides.
The new River Plate 26-27 away pre-match jersey is scheduled to be worn by the squad during warm-ups for away fixtures and will be available to purchase in the coming weeks.
Al Sadd SC 26-27 Third Kit Released
Al Sadd SC and New Balance have officially unveiled the club's new third kit for the 26-27 season. The release completes the Qatari giants' collection for the campaign, following the earlier launches of their white home and black-and-gold away jerseys.
The New Balance Al Sadd 26-27 third shirt brings a classy, lifestyle-infused color combination to the pitch, combining a light sand beige base with deep olive green accents. It features a classic polo collar with an open V-insert alongside matching olive sleeve cuffs, while the fabric itself is treated with a subtle diagonal jacquard weave.
All logos on the front of the shirt adopt the contrasting olive green hue, including the New Balance logo, Qatar Airways chest sponsorship, and a stylized, modern circular Al Sadd crest with concentric line detailing and the year 1969 positioned beneath two stars.
Hong Kong 2026 Home & Away Kits Released
Nike and the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA) have officially revealed the new Hong Kong 2026 national team kit collection. Celebrating 15 years of partnership between the brand and the association, the new launch is built around the theme "One Home, One Team, The Whole Hong Kong" and was officially photographed inside the newly constructed Kai Tak Stadium.
The Nike Hong Kong 2026 home shirt features a subtle two-tone design, cleanly divided down the vertical center into two distinct shades of red. It utilizes a central chest layout, placing the circular HKFA federation badge prominently in the middle with a white Nike Swoosh positioned directly beneath it. Black accents run down the sides and frame the collar, while a dragon graphic from the association's identity is printed inside the neckline. Black shorts and red socks complete the home strip.
The new away kit adopts a crisp white base complemented by modern, asymmetric accents in red and black along the collar and side trims. Together with a vibrant green goalkeeper shirt and new anthem jackets, the Hong Kong 2026 collection will hit select retail shelves starting September 19, 2026.
Al Gharafa 26-27 Away Kit Released
Qatari side Al Gharafa SC has officially launched its new away kit for the 26-27 Qatar Stars League campaign. Made by Adidas, the new alternate shirt arrives shortly after the club rolled out its primary home look.
The Adidas Al Gharafa 2026-27 away jersey introduces a distinctive vertical striped design set against a clean white base. Blue and yellow stripes run down the front, complemented by an asymmetrical layout that features a blue right sleeve and a yellow left sleeve. The collar combines both primary club colors, while the Adidas performance logo appears in blue and the QIIB sponsor badge sits centrally across the chest.
The new away shirt completes the club's set alongside the previously unveiled 26-27 home kit, which sports a vibrant yellow base with royal blue Three Stripes and trim. Both shirts are now officially available through the club's retail channels.
