As we do every year, as the 31st of December approaches, we can’t help but take a quick look back at the best products that brands have launched over the season. We’ve already brought you our Top 5 goalkeeper gloves and the best accessories to give as gifts, so today we’re wrapping up this series with the best football boots of the year.
NEW BALANCE TEKELA V3
We start the ranking in fifth place with New Balance, a brand that is gradually carving out a niche for itself amongst the big names, competing with giants such as Nike and adidas. Specifically, we’ve chosen the new Tekela, a truly revolutionary boot. Many of us expected Sergio Ramos to adopt them permanently and become the face of the brand, although in the end he stuck with adidas. Even so, the mere fact that a player of his calibre has worn them during several training sessions speaks volumes about the quality of the product developed by the American firm. These are laceless boots, equipped with highly advanced technologies. The instep features an elastic knit construction that provides total freedom of movement when striking the ball. Furthermore, they offer an exceptional fit thanks to an inner membrane that wraps around the foot and keeps it perfectly secure, limiting internal movement and enhancing the feeling of stability. Another of its strengths is the upper, made from synthetic material with an innovative three-dimensional technology called Kinetic Stitch, designed to improve control and contact with the ball. Finally, the outsole is spectacular in both appearance and function, with a stud pattern that provides excellent grip and superb traction.
ADIDAS X GHOSTED
In fourth place we find one of the lightest boots on the market, worn by top footballers such as Gareth Bale and Serge Gnabry. Many adidas fans have been waiting for a model like this, as it recaptures much of the feel of the legendary F50s – boots that defined an era and whose essence seems to be gradually making a comeback. It is an extremely lightweight boot, made from synthetic materials that create a very thin and minimalist upper. It is available in both laceless and laced versions, so that every player can choose the level of fit that best suits their preferences. The sole is probably the most striking feature of the boot. It is constructed with a carbon plate that provides great lightness and excellent responsiveness during explosive movements.
PUMA ULTRA
We start our top three with Puma’s speed boot, the model we’ve seen worn by Antoine Griezmann, striker for FC Barcelona and the French national team. It’s a boot that competes directly with the adidas X and the Nike Mercurial, as Puma has designed it to make a strong entry into the market for the fastest boots available. And the truth is, they’ve succeeded. This is a meticulously crafted boot, developed down to the very last detail. It features one of the lightest uppers available, made from ultra-lightweight synthetic materials, including fibres inspired by Kevlar, which provide strength and water resistance. The MatrixEvo technology, present throughout the upper, makes these boots a perfect choice for those who love a minimalist feel. Furthermore, the forefoot area features a textured coating that adds extra grip, making the most difficult controls and first touches easier. The outsole retains Puma’s classic hybrid design, suitable for both FG and AG surfaces.
NIKE PHANTOM GT
We come to Nike, a brand that has shaped the history of football and continues to do so with models such as the Phantom GT. These boots have won over countless players, to the extent that some footballers who previously used other ranges from the same brand have decided to switch to the GTs thanks to the excellent work carried out by Nike. This is a highly versatile boot, capable of satisfying both those seeking a lightweight feel and those who prefer a slightly more robust construction. With this model, Nike achieved the goal it had set itself: to merge the best features of two lines that failed to fully convince on their own—the Phantom Venom and the Phantom Vision—creating a completely new, modern and innovative boot. And the result was an absolute success.
F50 MEMORY LANE X FÚTBOL EMOTION
First place goes to the collaboration between adidas and Fútbol Emotion, a boot that holds a very special meaning for us. This launch represents the fulfilment of a dream and the result of many years of hard work, culminating in a collaboration with one of the most important brands in the history of sport. This is a boot that blends tradition and modernity, a model that was even worn by one of the world’s best strikers, Karim Benzema. It is a limited edition that sold out in just over an hour. Its design blends two iconic models: on the one hand, it incorporates the sole of the adidas X Ghosted and, on the other, it revives the upper of the adidas Crazylight, a boot launched a few years ago that stood out for its spectacular weight of just 135 grams.
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