Nowadays we will not find a single brand whose football boots do not have a line of boots full of different and flashy colours, synthetic materials, ultra-light models, or with a great framework. Furthermore, there are two brands that dominate the Marketplace such as Adidas and Nike, and then others that have some market share like Puma, Umbro, New Balance, etc.
If we go back 20 years, this would be unthinkable. Football bots were black with a huge tongue that covered the shoelaces, conical cleats and a natural leather framework. If we compare a photo from back then, you will be able to see at least 5 different brands among the boots and not just two or three like nowadays.
Let´s compare!
Real Madrid 2015-2016
Which are the boots worn by these players?
By looking at the photo we can see:
- White, or black adidas X, made of synthetic materials and ultra-light (Marcelo, Benzema and Bale)
- Blue adidas ACE, made of leather (Keylor Navas)
- White adidas adiPURE made of leather (Toni Kroos)
- White Nike Tiempo made of leather (Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal)
- White/multicolour, or blue Nike Mercurial, made of synthetic materials and thread (Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo)
- White/multicolour Nike Magista made of synthetic materials (Casemiro)
- Orange Umbro Speciali Eternal made of leather (Pepe)
Summary: 2 main brands plus another model of Umbro (if Varane has been playing instead of Pepe, it would have been 2 brands). Very colorful boots, boots that weigh less than 200 grams, 4 natural leather boots and only one with a reversible tongue.
Real Madrid 1995-1996
Which are the boots worn by Real Madid players 20 years ago?
Taking a look at the photo we can see:
- Adidas Copa Argentina (Fernando Redondo)
- adidas Predator Touch (Ferdando Hierro).
- adidas Copa Mundial (Panucci and Victor)
- Diadora Brazil (Seedorf)
- Lotto Stadio (Suker and Amavisca)
- Umbro Speciali (Roberto Carlos)
- Reebok Raul (Raul Gonzalez)
- Kelme Duende (Alkorta)
- Uhlsport Torkralle (Illgner)
Summary: 7 different brands of boots. All of them are black except for the Umbro Speciali (Blue), all of them are made of natural leather and are equipped with a reversible tongue and none of the weighs less than 320 grams.
Interesting facts: No player wears Nike boots, Real Madrid is sponsored by Kelme, and the official football of La Liga made by Nike, completely white, and completely different than the ones used nowadays.
Has the marketplace gone crazy? It is true that currently, there is a lot more to choose from: different materials, colours, soles, weights… But I would like to see which boot would be chosen by each player is the sponsoring contracts did not play such a key role…
Which model do you like better, old school or the current one? Why do you think this has happened? Is it too much? We look forward to read your comments.