Boot Watch
Lionel Messi Debuts Adidas F50 "Fútbol y Familia" Signature Boots
Following their official launch by Adidas, Lionel Messi has given an on-pitch debut to his latest signature boots, the Adidas F50 "Fútbol y Familia", in action with Inter Miami. Having previously trained in the unreleased pair, the Argentine icon laced up the striking red edition for the first time in an official match.
The "Fútbol y Familia" edition features an eye-catching Lucid Red, Core Black, and Pure Ruby color palette inspired by Messi's formative years at Newell's Old Boys and his Argentine roots. The design takes heavy nostalgia-driven cues from the 2000s F50 era, particularly the classic F50.6 TUNIT, incorporating an integrated lace cover over the instep alongside black Three Stripes outlined in white.
As usual with Messi's match-worn pairs, the boots featured bespoke personal details. The inner collar is inscribed with the names and dates of his family members, including his wife Antonela and son Ciro, while his signature logo sits prominently on the lace cover. The boots are available at select retailers as Messi's main club model for the 26-27 campaign.
Messi Spotted Training in Red Adidas F50 26-27 Signature Boots
Lionel Messi has once again laced up his upcoming signature boots in training with Inter Miami. Having first tested them in late September, the Argentine superstar was seen wearing the unreleased red pair during Inter Miami's latest session, confirming that the new boots are ready for action.
The boots are Messi's next signature edition of the Adidas F50 for the 26-27 season. The design features a vibrant red upper contrasted by flowing white accents and black Three Stripes, channeling heavy retro inspiration from classic mid-2000s F50 models. Messi's pair also showcases his bespoke fold-over lace cover setup alongside an eye-catching iridescent Sprintframe 360 soleplate.
With Messi now consistently breaking in the new model on the pitch, an official launch from Adidas is expected in the very near future.
Not Leaving Adidas? Declan Rice Trains in Next-Gen Adidas Predator 2026 Prototype Boots
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has been spotted testing a whiteout prototype of the next-generation Adidas Predator 2026 football boots during training. The England international, who has long served as one of the primary ambassadors for the Adidas Copa Pure line, took to the pitch in an unreleased all-white boot featuring a laced setup and a low-cut knit tongue design identical to the configuration favored by club teammate Martin Odegaard.
The sighting is particularly intriguing given recent speculation surrounding Rice's boot sponsorship. The midfielder had previously been seen trialing unbranded whiteout models from rival brands, including the Nike Tiempo and Under Armour Magnetico 6, sparking rumors that he might depart the Three Stripes. However, his active role in testing Adidas's upcoming flagship control boot suggests that negotiations are progressing and that he could remain with the brand, potentially transitioning from the Copa to the Predator silo.
The next-generation Adidas Predator 27 is scheduled to launch in December 2026, lor January 2027. The upcoming generation draws heavy visual inspiration from the iconic 2000 Predator Precision, incorporating modern Nanostrike rubber grip elements, a redesigned Powerspine soleplate structure, and an engineered Primeknit upper across laced, laceless, and fold-over tongue variants.
Generational Clash: Marcos Acuña Wears Mismatched Predator 25 and 26 Boots
River Plate defender Marcos Acuña caught the eye in recent training by stepping onto the pitch in an unusual boot setup. The Argentine international was spotted wearing two different generations of the Adidas Predator line simultaneously, lacing up the newer Predator 26 on his left foot and sticking with the previous-generation Predator 25 on his right foot.
While both cleats share a similar white, black, and red aesthetic, the technology beneath them differs significantly. The Predator 26 features a revised, lightweight textile mesh construction with updated grip elements and a restructured soleplate, contrasting with the HybridTouch 2.0 synthetic upper and tooling found on the Predator 25. Opting for different generations across each foot is often a sign of a player testing new tech, managing minor fit and comfort preferences, or dealing with foot sensitivity on his dominant striking foot.
Mismatched boots are relatively uncommon at the top level, and combining consecutive generations of the same silo is an especially rare boot spot. It remains to be seen whether Acuña will stick to this split setup in official matches or complete the full switch to the Predator 26 in the near future.
