The best special editions of Messi's boots

Firstly, we should point out that there have been many special editions throughout the Argentine’s long and highly successful career, all of which have been reflected in his boots. With the launch of the new adidas Nemeziz Messi The King Pack, we have the latest special edition in a long history of fantastic boots, of which we will mention just a few – and, to be honest, they are in no particular order, as any of these, and some we haven’t included, are true works of art.

Football Boots Nemeziz Messi .1 FG Solar red-Solar yellow-Core black

-48%

€219.99

€114.99

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We begin with one of the most special editions of Leo Messi’s boots – the very pair he wore when he broke FC Barcelona’s all-time goalscoring record, a record he set with a hat-trick in 2014, overtaking Paulino Alcántara, who had been the club’s top scorer until then. 

Only 370 pairs were ever made, and they were rarely seen on the track, as they quickly found their way into museums and the collections of the lucky few who managed to get their hands on one. 

It was at the 2014 World Cup that the Argentine came closest to achieving glory with his national team, and to do so he wore a very special pair of boots.

The German brand unveiled a truly spectacular kit for the occasion and an even more special edition for Messi. This edition differs from the standard version with a blue stripe down the centre, as well as a different sole and a slight change in materials, which almost saw the Argentine lift the long-awaited World Cup trophy. 

The Argentine player has to his name no fewer than six Ballon d’Or awards, a unique achievement that has inspired some spectacular boots, from the Messi Ballon d’Or models in 2012 and 2013, featuring gold accents and even sun motifs, to the 2010 F50 Messi boots, which commemorated his first Ballon d’Or with a stunning pair of boots made entirely of gold and crafted from natural leather.

However, the latest ones, those from his sixth Ballon d’Or, are the best of all. They aren’t gold, but rather a tribute to those F50 Camaleón boots the Argentine wore at the 2010 World Cup, with that distinctive metallic purple colour. A masterpiece that returned in 2019 under the name Nemeziz, in a special metal box for the occasion, which in a way marked the beginning and end of the discussion surrounding all of Messi’s Ballon d’Ors. 

We could talk at length about the F50 Tune It, a modular model that won over many fans and was the boot of choice for the 2009 Champions League final. The reason is that FC Barcelona’s victory was not only sealed by a goal from Messi, but also because it was a header – a goal that brought the boot to the forefront of the celebrations for that historic victory. 

The fact is that Messi used the leather version of this boot and modified the sole; although it isn’t the best model the Argentine has ever had, the significance and impact of this boot certainly deserve a mention. 

And we’ll round off this post with another pair of adidas football boots that we are particularly fond of. Messi has had various boots dedicated to Argentina, Rosario, and even Barcelona. Amongst these, we can highlight those designed by Ernesto Luis Callegari, which feature images of iconic moments from the number 10’s career, as well as elements from his hometown of Rosario and the city of Barcelona. 

However, the essence of Messi can be seen in the Pibe de Barr10 boots, a design inspired by Las Heras, the neighbourhood where the world-class star grew up. The urban art design features details from the neighbourhood, such as street art, posters and other characteristic elements of the area. 

What’s more, wearing these boots, the star player in the FC Barcelona jersey played a large part of the 2015 Champions League, which his team went on to win, and, in addition to a superb performance, scored that famous goal against Bayern with that mind-boggling dribble past Boateng. 

Boateng’s goal wasn’t the only one these boots witnessed; we also saw another of the finest goals of Messi’s career, with his slaloming run against Athletic in the Copa del Rey final. 

And here’s a round-up of some of the best special editions for Leo Messi. Of course, there are plenty more that haven’t made the cut, as it’s almost impossible to include them all. But we think any of these five are absolutely brilliant boots. Which ones would you choose?