Our Year in Review series concludes with our favorite boots to drop in 2024.
Football boots will always have an important place in the culture of the game, and in 2024 we saw a nice mix of retro inspiration and cutting-edge innovation. Let’s shine a light on some of our favorite releases from the year, in no particular order.
Note: There were 20 boots initially included on this list, which was too excessive. Whittling it down proved quite difficult, but in the end, a solid 11 releases made the cut, with one being an entire pack. You could say that’s cheating, but it’s my list, and I make the rules here.
Diadora Baggio Blue Brasil
Thirty years on from the iconic 1994 World Cup in the United States, Diadora celebrated by releasing a special edition boot paying homage to Italy, the brand’s home country. The Azzuri were a penalty kick away from winning the World Cup, but ultimately fell to Brazil, which makes it slightly ironic that this boot celebrating Roberto Baggio and his teammates is called the Brasil. But that is what it’s always been. After all, it’s an iconic silo and this edition in “Baggio Blue” is spectacular.
adidas F50 Fast Reborn
I am a sucker for the F50, and when adidas announced it was stopping production of the boot, I was devastated. Judging by the reaction to the boot’s return, I wasn’t alone. The “Fast Reborn” reimagines one of the favorite original colorways, the “Chameleon,” worn in 2010. The new version brings a bit of nostalgia (as a lot of this list does) to all of us.
adidas Copa Mundial Federations Pack
This is the whole pack I was talking about. The whole thing is included as one entry in this list because the boots don’t hold up as a standalone item. As an entire pack, though? They’re great. adidas took the iconic Copa Mundial and remixed it, celebrating a range of nations — Germany, Italy, Spain, Argentina and Mexico. The outcome is wonderful.
adidas Predator 24 Roteiro
Nostalgia? You got it. The adidas Predator 24 Roteiro throws back to the 2004 European Championships, where we got to witness the Predator Pulse. In celebration of the tournament’s 20-year anniversary, adidas released this brand new colorway of the Predator alongside a remake of the iconic matchball.
PUMA King Pele and Cruyff
Everyone knows about the PUMA King. And everyone knows how many incredible players wore them. Pele and Johan Cruyff were two of the biggest to do so, which is why PUMA honored both of them with a special edition version of the iconic boot. And for that alone, they get into this list, never mind the look of the boot.
Pantofola D’Oro Lazzarini
Another boot that pays homage to a legend, this edition of the Lazzarini is a nod to Roger Milla, who at 38 years old, scored at Italia ’90 and proceeded to dance at the corner flag and cement himself in football folklore. His goals at this tournament placed him as the oldest goalscorer at a World Cup at the time, and they were scored wearing this boot.
Nike Premier III Golden
I love a Nike Premier. It’s classy. It’s iconic. Mix that with a nod to the golden Tiempos made famous by Ronaldinho and that iconic advert and you’ve got yourself a cracker of a boot.
adidas Y-3 Predator 24
Another Predator on the list? You betcha. And it isn’t even the last one. This special edition release was part of the Y-3 Real Madrid drop and was exclusive for Real Madrid players. It featured a cloud white upper with a black fold-over tongue that dons the signature of Yohji Yamamoto. Beautiful stuff.
PUMA FUTURE 7 Neymar Jr BNA
With a nice ode to Brazilian culture and flare, this boot headlined the Neymar Jr BNA pack and did so brilliantly. Regardless of where he is currently playing (or whether or not he is actually playing), Neymar’s influence in world football is still massive. This is why PUMA continues to keep him at the forefront of the brand. As long they keep releasing boots like this, they can do as they please.
adidas Originals Predator 24
Okay. This is the final Predator on the list. And how could I not include it?! It’s an adidas Predator donned with the Trefoil logo. An adidas Originals Predator is the literal peak of football boots and when David Beckham is involved, the beauty of the boot makes even more sense. The blue and white colorway of the boot is fantastic.
adidas 11PRO TK
Everyone knows the story of Toni Kroos and his 11PRO football boots. Long after the brand discontinued the model, it kept a select number in production for one man — Kroos. In 2023, adidas revealed two remakes of 11PRO, one as a limited edition made exactly to the requirements of Kroos, and the other being a remake made for wider audiences. This time, they gave the 11PRO a golden makeover, fit for a player of his aura.
