Boot Watch

Jude Bellingham has been spotted wearing the Adidas Predator boots from the new Chaos vs Control pack. The Real Madrid midfielder debuted the colorway during a recent training session, providing a first on-pitch look at the design ahead of the 2026-27 season.Thanks to @marcadegol.

It was a dream debut for Bellingham, who scored a brilliant brace to lead England to a 2-0 victory over hosts Mexico, sending the Three Lions into the quarter-finals, where they will face Norway.

Kylian Mbappé has trained in the Nike Mercurial Superfly 11 'Scorpion', also sharing the boot in his social media story. The 'Scorpion' colorway is a special exclusive release reserved solely for Mbappé and Vinicius Jr, who will wear the boots during the upcoming knockout rounds of the 2026 World Cup. Thanks to Boots Club for the images.

Next-Gen Nike Mercurial 2026 'Scorpion' Boots Revealed - Coming 9 July

Jun 30, 2026

Michael Olise has caught the attention of boot enthusiasts during the 2026 World Cup by sporting various custom pairs of the Nike Hypervenom III DF. The French international has been using the tournament to showcase his unique boot choices, matching different custom colorways to his team's kits with total freedom.

The Hypervenom III DF, originally released in 2017, holds a special place in Olise's footwear rotation. Nike appears to be fully supporting his preference for the discontinued silo, building a unique narrative around his obsession with the boots. This level of customization and dedication to an older model is a rare sight on the modern international stage.

As Olise continues to perform at the highest level, he is quickly establishing himself as a modern icon for the Hypervenom line. Boot communities, such as BootsCulture, have been closely tracking his footwear journey since day one, noting the distinct look and personalization he brings to the pitch.

Cristiano Ronaldo has gifted streamer and super-fan IShowSpeed an incredibly rare pair of football boots. The Portuguese legend presented Speed with the Nike Mercurial Superfly 11 Elite FG Gold Scorpion edition, adding another memorable moment to their well-documented interactions.

These boots hold significant historical value, as they were worn by Ronaldo during his final World Cup campaign. Nike created this spectacular gold design specifically for the forward to wear on the biggest international stage.

Originally, Ronaldo had planned to personally present this gift to Speed if Portugal had defeated Spain and advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals. However, after Portugal's early elimination, CR7 had to leave the special gift with a staff member, who was then asked to deliver it to Speed.

According to the staff member, Speed is one of only two people in the world to own a pair of boots that Ronaldo personally wore during the recent World Cup.

The 2026 World Cup has provided a massive stage for the world's biggest sportswear brands to showcase their latest boot packs, but a closer look reveals a fascinating array of player-specific customizations. While retail versions of these boots are worn by the majority of players, high-resolution photography from the tournament has highlighted several special, heavily modified boots that differ significantly from what is available to the public.

Through close-up shots shared by boot enthusiast @bootsplug, we can see the intricate details and hidden modifications that often go unnoticed during regular match broadcasts. The close-up images reveal an impressive level of personalization. Players have taken to the pitch in boots featuring custom national flags, personalized text, and unique stitching patterns.

Chelsea star Cole Palmer has been spotted wearing the new Nike Mercurial Vapor 17 boots during the club's 26-27 preseason training. This marks a surprising shift, as Nike has prominently positioned the attacking midfielder as a leading face of the Phantom boot line. Images from the training session show him testing the latest generation of the Mercurial Vapor, raising questions about a potential change in his footwear preference ahead of the new season. Thanks to Bootsclub.

Palmer previously favored the Mercurial line earlier in his career before becoming one of the main athletes for the Phantom series. It remains to be seen whether this is just a temporary test of the new Nike Mercurial Vapor 17 or a permanent return to his former boot of choice. As Chelsea continues their preparations for the 26-27 campaign, we will keep a close eye on Palmer's boots in upcoming preseason matches.

French rising star Désiré Doué, has been frequently switching between the Nike Mercurial Vapor 17 and Superfly 11 boots over the past few weeks. Doué opted for the low-cut Nike Mercurial Vapor 17 for the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League final, but then surprised fans by starting the 2026 World Cup wearing the high-cut Superfly 11.

However, his stint with the Superfly 11 was short-lived, as Doué recently switched back to the Mercurial Vapor 17 for France's latest matches at the tournament. This indecision between the collared and non-collared versions of Nike's speed boot is notable for a player who is heavily featured in the brand's promotional campaigns. Doué has also been spotted wearing reissue Mercurial Vapor Superfly 1 boots recently, showcasing his affinity for the Mercurial heritage.

In an interesting development during the 2026 World Cup, several Colombia national team players could soon be spotted wearing classic football boots. Mexican boot seller @soccerstoremx recently visited the Colombian national team's training camp in Mexico to showcase and sell a selection of iconic vintage cleats directly to the squad.

The visit provided the Colombian players with the opportunity to browse and purchase rare and discontinued models from past eras. With the players getting their hands on these classic boots, it raises the possibility that some of them will lace up in vintage footwear during their upcoming 2026 World Cup fixtures.

While modern boot technology dominates international tournaments, the appeal of classic designs remains strong among professional players. It remains to be seen which specific boot models were purchased by the Colombian squad and if any will make an official on-pitch appearance in the coming days.

Following his final World Cup appearance, Adidas has launched a special campaign celebrating Lionel Messi's incredible journey on football's biggest stage. Under the banner "Greatest of All Time," the brand pays tribute to the Argentine star by bringing together every pair of boots he has worn across his World Cup tournaments.

The campaign highlights the evolution of Messi's signature Adidas footwear, tracing his history from his tournament debut in 2006 up to the 2026 edition. By featuring all of his iconic World Cup cleats in one place, Adidas offers fans a visual timeline of his career, honoring his legacy and the memorable moments associated with each pair.

The tribute serves as a fitting homage to Messi's unparalleled impact on the sport. It perfectly encapsulates his enduring partnership with Adidas and celebrates his achievements throughout an illustrious international career.

🔹2006:  Adidas F50 Tunit 'Argentina'

🔹2010: Adidas F50 Adizero 'Chameleon'

🔹2014: Adidas F50 Adizero Messi 'Battle'

🔹2018: Adidas Nemeziz Messi 'Energy Mode'

🔹2022: Adidas X Speedportal 'Leyenda'

🔹2026: Adidas F50 'El Último Tango'

The 2026 World Cup has provided a massive stage for the world's biggest sportswear brands to showcase their latest boot packs, but a closer look reveals a fascinating array of player-specific customizations. While retail versions of these boots are worn by the majority of players, high-resolution photography from the tournament has highlighted several special, heavily modified boots that differ significantly from what is available to the public.

Through close-up shots shared by boot enthusiast @bootsplug, we can see the intricate details and hidden modifications that often go unnoticed during regular match broadcasts. The close-up images reveal an impressive level of personalization. Players have taken to the pitch in boots featuring custom national flags, personalized text, and unique stitching patterns.

Chelsea star Cole Palmer has been spotted wearing the new Nike Mercurial Vapor 17 boots during the club's 26-27 preseason training. This marks a surprising shift, as Nike has prominently positioned the attacking midfielder as a leading face of the Phantom boot line. Images from the training session show him testing the latest generation of the Mercurial Vapor, raising questions about a potential change in his footwear preference ahead of the new season. Thanks to Bootsclub.

Palmer previously favored the Mercurial line earlier in his career before becoming one of the main athletes for the Phantom series. It remains to be seen whether this is just a temporary test of the new Nike Mercurial Vapor 17 or a permanent return to his former boot of choice. As Chelsea continues their preparations for the 26-27 campaign, we will keep a close eye on Palmer's boots in upcoming preseason matches.

Footy Headlines has shared more images of Travis Scott alongside the special Phantom 6 'Cactus Jack', which was officially released at the end of June.

The new photos capture a gritty, street-inspired aesthetic that perfectly reflects Travis Scott's signature style.

Prior to the launch, Travis was also spotted wearing the TF (Turf) version of the boots at Nike's TOMA event in Miami in December 2025.

Cristiano Ronaldo has gifted streamer and super-fan IShowSpeed an incredibly rare pair of football boots. The Portuguese legend presented Speed with the Nike Mercurial Superfly 11 Elite FG Gold Scorpion edition, adding another memorable moment to their well-documented interactions.

These boots hold significant historical value, as they were worn by Ronaldo during his final World Cup campaign. Nike created this spectacular gold design specifically for the forward to wear on the biggest international stage.

Originally, Ronaldo had planned to personally present this gift to Speed if Portugal had defeated Spain and advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals. However, after Portugal's early elimination, CR7 had to leave the special gift with a staff member, who was then asked to deliver it to Speed.

According to the staff member, Speed is one of only two people in the world to own a pair of boots that Ronaldo personally wore during the recent World Cup.

French rising star Désiré Doué, has been frequently switching between the Nike Mercurial Vapor 17 and Superfly 11 boots over the past few weeks. Doué opted for the low-cut Nike Mercurial Vapor 17 for the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League final, but then surprised fans by starting the 2026 World Cup wearing the high-cut Superfly 11.

However, his stint with the Superfly 11 was short-lived, as Doué recently switched back to the Mercurial Vapor 17 for France's latest matches at the tournament. This indecision between the collared and non-collared versions of Nike's speed boot is notable for a player who is heavily featured in the brand's promotional campaigns. Doué has also been spotted wearing reissue Mercurial Vapor Superfly 1 boots recently, showcasing his affinity for the Mercurial heritage.