Nike Have Changed Their Football (Boot) Strategy
Oct 26, 2021, by Chris
If you have followed the season and have had an eye on the player's boots, you surely have noticed that most Nike players have been wearing the same boot since the start of the campaign. This is no accident but planned by Nike as part of their new strategy in soccer.
Nike Have Reduced Numbers of Football Boot Colorways & Releases
Just 10 years ago, in the 2011-12, Cristiano Ronaldo and many other players did wear around eight different boots during a season. For CR7, seven of his boots were regular releases, while one was a signature edition.
Nike did release new colorways every month some years ago
In fact, the maximum of football boots was released around 2016. In the second half of 2016, Nike did release nine colorways for the "Hypervenom 2.5" alone - a new paint job every three weeks.
In the 2021-22 season so far, Nike have only released one main boot collection - the Motivation Pack. It has been worn by Nike players since the start of the season.
Haaland and many other Nike players have been wearing the same boots in every match of the 21-22 season so far
For Nike, this means they do not have to send new boots to their players every month. For players, it means that they do not have to break into new shoes every 6 weeks.
Nike are still releasing some special releases but not far as many as in the mid-2010s. The Swoosh also completely ditched the Women's boot colorways that came out up to four times a year.
We expect Nike's second "main pack" to be the "Recharge Collection" that will be released in November 2021. In total, Nike will bring out three or four main collections in the 2021-22 season.
Adidas' strategy is to release around 4 main packs per season as well as special packs that are worn by select star players. Puma's strategy is similar as Adidas'.
We see more kit releases than in the past
Meanwhile, all brands are releasing more football kits and other football gear related items than before. PSG is getting four kits every year (and many other Nike teams 4th kits), Adidas are releasing special-edition kits for all the big teams (Humanrace, Teamgeist) and Puma are doing so as well (BALR, Street Soccer, King).
Nike have "lost" many famous footballers
Nike have also not extended the contacts with many (expensive) players, rounding off their new strategy in football. The latest one seems to be Jorginho.
Good or bad? What do you think of players wearing the same colorway for more than one or two month again? Do you think the trend toward more and more football kits will stop? Comment below, check out more boot stats on Football Boots DB and boot leaks and releases in the Boot Calendar.
Urawa Red Diamonds 26-27 Third Kit Released
Japanese J1 League club Urawa Red Diamonds and Nike have officially unveiled the team's new third kit for the 26-27 season. Following the release of the primary strips earlier in the summer, the new uniform introduces a striking blackout look for the autumn-spring campaign.
The Nike Urawa Red Diamonds 26-27 third shirt is predominantly black and features an embossed tonal lightning pattern running vertically down the body. Inspired by the thunderous cheers and energy of the club's supporters, the geometric graphic creates a subtle light-catching effect. For the first time since 2018, the Nike Swoosh appears in gold, joined by contrasting red ventilation stripes along the sides and clean white sponsor prints across the chest and back.
Completing the strip are matching black shorts and socks detailed with gold branding. Crafted from 100% recycled polyester as part of Nike's Move to Zero sustainability initiative, the Urawa Red Diamonds 26-27 third kit goes on sale on September 25, 2026, via the club's official online store.
Persib Bandung 26-27 Shopee Cup Kits Released
Indonesian side Persib Bandung and Spanish manufacturer Kelme have officially released their new dedicated kit set for the 26-27 ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup. Following custom wardrobe lineups launched for both the domestic campaign and the AFC Champions League Two, Persib maintains a distinct look for each competition they contest this season.
The Persib 26-27 Shopee Cup home jersey is dressed in the club's customary royal blue, elevated by a tonal graphic pattern themed "Resonansi Kesetiaan" (Resonance of Loyalty), representing sound waves and echoing the roaring passion of the supporters. The away shirt opts for an eye-catching blue and white checkerboard pattern layered over subtle graphic textures. Both jerseys feature clean white accents on the collar and cuffs, accompanied by the Kelme logo and front sponsor NexAI.
Two goalkeeper jerseys—one in textured black and another in light ice blue—complete the collection. The Persib Bandung 26-27 Shopee Cup kits are released in both authentic Player Issue and Supporter Edition versions.
Persib Bandung 26-27 Shopee Cup Kits Released
Indonesian side Persib Bandung and Spanish manufacturer Kelme have officially released their new dedicated kit set for the 26-27 ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup. Following custom wardrobe lineups launched for both the domestic campaign and the AFC Champions League Two, Persib maintains a distinct look for each competition they contest this season.
The Persib 26-27 Shopee Cup home jersey is dressed in the club's customary royal blue, elevated by a tonal graphic pattern themed "Resonansi Kesetiaan" (Resonance of Loyalty), representing sound waves and echoing the roaring passion of the supporters. The away shirt opts for an eye-catching blue and white checkerboard pattern layered over subtle graphic textures. Both jerseys feature clean white accents on the collar and cuffs, accompanied by the Kelme logo and front sponsor NexAI.
Two goalkeeper jerseys—one in textured black and another in light ice blue—complete the collection. The Persib Bandung 26-27 Shopee Cup kits are released in both authentic Player Issue and Supporter Edition versions.
Adidas Argentina Messi 2026 'Farewell' Kit Leaked - 4 New Images
Footy Headlines can leak 4 new images of the special Adidas Argentina Messi 'Farewell' shirt, which will be released soon.
The kit features a unique central white stripe flanked by sky blue sides, a sunburst graphic, Messi’s 'M' logo in metallic gold, and a special gold Sun of May graphic housing his number 10 on the upper back.
Behind the Scenes: Kylian Mbappé On Football Boot Prototypes Revealed
Following the announcement that Kylian Mbappé has parted ways with Nike to join Swiss running brand On as a global ambassador and equity partner, new behind-the-scenes images have surfaced revealing the development of his first-ever signature football boot. The Swiss brand is directly adapting its revolutionary LightSpray technology to football footwear, working closely with Mbappé and On Director of Football Thierry Henry to craft an ultra-lightweight speed boot.
The development images provide a close look at the technology and early components taking shape inside On's innovation lab. A testing board displays various stages of seamless, robotically sprayed uppers created without traditional stitching or adhesives to minimize weight and eliminate distraction. Alongside custom foot lasts molded to Mbappé's exact specifications, the images reveal an eye-catching iridescent chrome soleplate equipped with aggressive chevron and angled studs designed specifically for explosive linear acceleration.
Mbappé has already been spotted testing whiteout prototypes during Real Madrid training sessions throughout the early stages of the 26-27 campaign. While he is set to showcase the boots on pitch and in virtual form this season, the first commercial release of On's LightSpray football boots is not scheduled to hit retail shelves until 2027.
Guadeloupe 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Tempo Sport has officially unveiled the new home and away kits for the Guadeloupe national football team for the 26-27 international cycle. Continuing their partnership with the Ligue Guadeloupéenne de Football (LGF), the Austrian manufacturer has delivered bespoke designs deeply rooted in the Caribbean archipelago's natural landscape and cultural heritage.
The Guadeloupe 26-27 home shirt arrives in an earthy, deep red palette that pays homage to the iconic La Soufrière volcano and its surrounding ecosystem. Blended into a traditional madras-inspired patchwork pattern, the shirt features a rich tapestry of island motifs, including volcanic topographic lines, hibiscus blooms, banana leaves, mangrove roots, palms, and hummingbirds.
Completing the set, the Guadeloupe 26-27 away jersey draws inspiration from the island's dense tropical rainforests. It is styled in vibrant shades of green across wide tonal stripes, with detailed graphics depicting lush foliage, palm fronds, and the island's distinctive volcanic terrain.
No More Givova: Adidas SS Juve Stabia 26-27 Away Kit Released
Italian Serie B club SS Juve Stabia has officially revealed its new away kit for the 26-27 campaign. The new strip is part of the club's technical partnership with Adidas, facilitated through teamwear specialist Linea Oro Sport, following the conclusion of the previous deal with Givova.
The Adidas SS Juve Stabia 26-27 away jersey features a clean white base detailed with subtle yellow vertical pinstripes down the front. The design is complemented by a yellow crew neck collar, while dark navy blue appears on the iconic Adidas Three Stripes along the shoulders and the Adidas logo on the chest. The club's crest is positioned over the left chest.
The launch photoshoot places a strong emphasis on the Castellammare di Stabia community, highlighting fans across various generations and personal milestones proudly wearing the new away shirt.
Marathon Ecuador 2026 Korea Tour Kit Released
Ecuador and official kit supplier Marathon have unveiled a special limited-edition jersey for La Tri's international friendly against South Korea in Suwon. Designed exclusively for the September 2026 Asian tour, the bespoke shirt celebrates the meeting of both cultures on the pitch.
The Marathon Ecuador Korea Tour special jersey features an off-white base paired with deep teal ribbed detailing on the V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs, complemented by colorful patterned inserts along the flanks. The centerpiece of the design sits on the lower front, where detailed line-art illustrations depict the Ecuadorian Andean condor on one side facing a traditional Korean tiger on the other.
The shirt makes its debut at Suwon World Cup Stadium as part of a two-match trip, with a companion yellow edition featuring condor and crane artwork lined up for the subsequent clash against Japan. The limited-edition jersey is available through Marathon's official web store and physical retail locations across Ecuador.