Virgil Van Dijk & Bruno Fernandes Wear "Second-Tier" Nike Tiempo Ligera Boots
Feb 15, 2026, by Phan Tich Giay
- Player Preference: Virgil van Dijk and Bruno Fernandes have been seen wearing the second-tier Nike Tiempo Ligera boots, a departure from the top-tier Tiempo Maestro favored by most Nike athletes.
- Boot Design: While both the Tiempo Maestro and Ligera feature Nike's new TechLeather upper, the Ligera offers a more traditional construction that appeals to players like Van Dijk who prefer a classic feel.
- Nike's Strategy: Nike is developing the Ligera parallel to the Maestro, offering exclusive colorways to cater to players who want the new TechLeather material in a traditional silhouette.
Update: After Virgil van Dijk, Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes has become the next high-profile player to wear the second-tier Nike Tiempo Ligera soccer cleats. The regular of the Nike Mercurial Vapor football boots wore the classy black, white, and gold colorway of the Nike Tiempo Ligera Pro soccer cleats in training only so far.
Bruno Fernandes' and Virgil van Dijk's choice confirm that the second-tier Nike Tiempo 2026 football boots (called Ligera Pro) are not the usual takedown. Instead, they are a football boot priced at a second-tier level but actually a top model with different tech than the high-priced elite, but not worse and not a takedown. For example, they are way lighter than the Maestro Elite (168g vs 198g in Size 7).
Bruno Fernandes Trains in Black/White/Gold Nike Tiempo Ligera Pro Soccer Cleats
Jan 30, 2026: In a move that has baffled boot spotters, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has been spotting wearing a version of the next-gen Nike Tiempo that technically shouldn't be on the feet of an elite player. Thanks to @bootsclub for the images.
Virgil Van Dijk Wears Second-Tier Nike Tiempo Ligera
Until now, every major Nike athlete switching to the new generation of Tiempo has laced up the Tiempo Maestro, the brand's designated Elite (Tier 1) model.
However, Van Dijk is currently the only high-profile player opting to play in the Tiempo Ligera.
According to Nike's official segmentation, the Ligera is classified as the Pro (Tier 2) model. It is extremely rare to see a world-class defender, and one of Nike's key assets, ditching the top-spec boot for a takedown version in official matches.
Classic Feel vs. Modern Tech?
Why would VVD make this choice? The answer likely lies in the design philosophy rather than the price tag.
- Shared Tech: Both the Maestro (Elite) and Ligera (Pro) feature Nike's synthetic TechLeather upper, marking a full departure from K-Leather for the silo.
- The Difference: While the Maestro pushes modern innovation, the Ligera features a much more traditional, classic construction. Van Dijk, known for his no-nonsense approach, may simply prefer the "old-school" fit and stitching of the Ligera over the high-tech engineering of the Maestro.
Nike's Unique Strategy for Ligera
It appears Nike is treating the Ligera as more than just a "cheap" alternative. The brand seems to be developing the Ligera parallel to the Maestro to cater to traditionalists.
Evidence of this strategy is found in the colorways. Nike has released two exclusive colorways (Black/Gold and White/Red/Black) that are available only for the Ligera and not the high-end Maestro.
This suggests that Nike acknowledges a specific market, including players like Van Dijk - who want the new TechLeather material but packaged in a traditional silhouette.
What do you think of Van Dijk wearing second-tier boots? Would you choose the Ligera over the Maestro? Let us know in the comments.
AJ Auxerre 26-27 Third Kit Released
French Ligue 1 side AJ Auxerre and technical partner Macron have officially unveiled the club's new third kit for the 2026-27 season. The new release completes Auxerre's set of match wear for the campaign, following the earlier launches of their retro-inspired home kit and black away strip.
The Macron Auxerre 2026-27 third jersey is predominantly blue and centers around a broad vertical navy stripe running down the middle, framed by two thin white boundary lines. In a centrally aligned setup, both the white Macron Hero and the AJ Auxerre crest are applied in silicone on the navy chest panel. A navy crew neck collar and matching sleeve cuffs feature contrasting white tipping, while "AJ AUXERRE" is embroidered in white on the upper back neck.
Matching blue shorts featuring navy and white edge striping and blue socks with a navy band topped by white trim round off the look.
Special FC Metz Robert Pirès 26-27 Testimonial Kit Released
French club FC Metz and kit supplier Kappa have officially unveiled a limited-edition collector's shirt to celebrate the testimonial match of club icon Robert Pirès, set to take place on October 6, 2026, at the Stade Saint-Symphorien.
The special jersey pays homage to Metz's memorable 1996 kit, the season Les Grenats lifted the Coupe de la Ligue with Pirès playing a central role. Reinterpreting the distinct graphic side motif of that era, the shirt features a rich garnet base paired with an intricate geometric graphic panel running down the side, an elegant white polo collar, and a centrally placed Kappa Omini logo alongside the club's traditional Lorraine cross crest. The back showcases Pirès' famous name and number 7 in a retro font, completed by a commemorative jocktag patch at the hem.
The limited-edition jersey is available for pre-order in strictly limited numbers via Metz's online store. It will be donned on pitch during the testimonial event, which brings together legends from Metz, Arsenal, and the France national team to celebrate the career of the 1998 World Cup winner where his professional journey first began.
Brighton Become First Team to Wear Anniversary Kit in the Premier League in 18 Years
In their recent 3-0 victory over Arsenal, Brighton debuted a special 125th-anniversary kit, making them the first team since Manchester United in 2008 (who marked the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster) to wear a commemorative jersey in the Premier League.
Clause 13, Section M of the Premier League regulations strictly limits clubs to three registered kits per season, making special exemptions exceptionally rare.
Other kit exemptions over the years have been few and far between: Man City wore a one-off gold sponsor detail on the final day to celebrate their title triumph in the last match of the 20-21 season, while Newcastle had to turn a pre-match tee into an official match kit to fix an emergency kit clash against Brighton in 22-23.
Thanks to our partner @whatthekit_x for the interesting spotted and the collage.
To Never Be Worn: TSV 1860 München 26-27 Oktoberfest Kit Released
The new TSV 1860 München 26-27 Oktoberfest kit has been officially released by Joma through the club's merchandising company. However, mirroring the previously revealed 26-27 home shirt, this special Wiesn design will never be worn in an official match. Following the insolvency of the club's professional division and forced relegation to the Regionalliga Bayern, 1860 München severed ties with Joma and partnered with local Munich supplier Societas for their on-pitch kits.
The Joma 1860 München 26-27 Oktoberfest jersey presents a classic Bavarian aesthetic based on a clean white shirt. Running vertically down the left side beneath the crest is a light blue and white Bavarian rhombus pattern, framed on both sides by delicate floral vine graphics reminiscent of traditional Trachten embroidery. A dark navy V-neck collar and matching sleeve cuffs complete the look, while the inside neck is detailed with Munich's famous "O'zapft is" festival motto. The front displays the traditional embroidered black lion badge with a championship star, accompanied by dark branding from Joma and primary sponsor die Bayerische.
Brazilian Clubs Defend Betting Sponsors
Corinthians, Palmeiras, São Paulo and Santos have joined forces with the São Paulo Football Federation (FPF) and other Brazilian football bodies to push back against possible restrictions on betting, warning that major changes could have a serious financial impact on the sport.
The reaction comes as the Brazilian government prepares a possible executive order to ban online casino operations, while further restrictions on sports betting are still being discussed. Clubs are concerned that tighter rules could put existing sponsorship deals and an important source of football revenue at risk.
And the numbers show why. 13 of the 20 Série A clubs currently have a betting company as their main shirt sponsor, with the combined value of these deals estimated at more than R$1 billion per season. Flamengo (Betano), Fluminense (Superbet), Botafogo (Vbet), Palmeiras (Sportingbet), Corinthians (Esportes da Sorte), São Paulo (Superbet)...
The debate comes as major European leagues have moved in the opposite direction. Italy introduced a broad ban on gambling advertising and sponsorship in 2018, while Spain introduced strict restrictions covering betting advertising and shirt sponsorships from the 2021-22 season. In England, Premier League clubs agreed to remove gambling sponsors from the front of matchday shirts from the 2026-27 season, although other forms of gambling partnerships remain possible.
What do you think of Brazilian clubs pushing back against possible betting restrictions? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
