In the ever-expanding landscape of football boots, it’s easy for some brands to get overlooked. We shed the spotlight on a handful of manufacturers who continue to churn out quality football footwear.
There are levels to the football boot game. Nike and adidas perennially battle it out for top spot, with PUMA and New Balance locking horns to see who can win the third place play-off. Standard.
Regardless of your preference, this can’t be argued with. The Swoosh and the Stripes have controlled the game for years now, dominating the market with a massive amounts of releases per year.
PUMA, while having slightly dropped from its heyday of Pele and Diego Maradona, still maintains relevance through iconic models like the KING, and having top ballers like Antoine Griezmann, Neymar, and Christian Pulisic rocking with them.
New Balance is the new kid on the block, but thanks to the size of its brand across sports and culture and strategic moves in the game, it sits up there in the upper echelons of football boots.
But these four brands aren’t the only ones doing remarkable things in the boot industry. Some well-known manufacturers still go under the radar, and some lesser-known brands deserve attention from the scene. So, to break out of the Nike and adidas mold, let’s look at the most underrated football boot brands in the game.
Diadora
During their careers, the likes of Roberto Baggio, George Weah, Francesco Totti, and Filippo Inzaghi wore Diadora boots at some stage, proving the level we’re talking about when we bring up the brand. Designed with elegance and comfort in mind, Diadora have been regularly producing stunning football boots and deserve their props. The Brasil silo is a beautiful boot, and the Made in Italy editions are for the purists.
Pantofola D’Oro
Continuing the Italian trend, I’m turning my attention to a brand dedicated to its craft. Pantofola D’Oro started back in the 1800s and continue its legacy today, creating luxury leather football boots. They ooze elegance, typical of Italian style, and bring a touch of class to the pitch. A massively underrated brand, Pantofola D’Oro very rarely come up in conversation when discussing football boots and are yet to break free from the niche realms of football purists who adore their work. Think classic leather boots with a focus on high quality and style and you have this brand. Bellissimo.
Mizuno
During his peak years, Rivaldo famously wore the Mizuno Morelia Wave Cups. He wore the silo to the World Cup 2002, which Brazil eventually won, cementing him and his boots in football folklore. And Mizuno are continuing their good work. The Morelia still stands strong, especially with their special edition Made in Japan versions. Add in their work with the Alpha, and people should stop sleeping on the Japanese brand.
Lotto
Andriy Shevchenko, Paul Gascoigne, Luca Toni, and Hernan Crespo all have something in common — at one point in their career, they laced up in some Lottos. People often turn their noses up at a brand like Lotto, but their Stadio boot is a fantastic option for those looking for that classic leather style. The fold-over tongue is a beautiful touch, too. The brand also have a speed-style option, the Solista. It also comes laceless because Nike and adidas aren’t the only ones in that space.
Ryal
Now, unless you’re a proper hipster or a bit of a boot nerd then this brand might be flying under your radar. I’m following on from that Italian love earlier to bring you another, as Ryal brings high quality leather football boots straight from the Peninsula. They’ve been making boots for the last 80 years with a focus on quality over quantity, which means you’ll likely have to go direct to the source to get your hands on some of their boots. Their classic Tricolore is a favorite of mine. This brand is right up my street and it should be up yours, too. Dedicated craftsmanship and pure romance all rolled into one.
