As we stare down the barrel of yet another international break, we can console ourselves with some past, present and future doing the rounds, as we check out the best new and upcoming releases, along with some throwback classics and some custom creations. It’s Monday, it’s Boot Spotting. Let’s go…
James Maddison (Leicester City) PUMA Future 6.1 BALR
The second collaborative collection between PUMA and BALR dropped this week, with the centrepiece being the special edition Future 6.1, and James Maddison debuted them in Leicester City's Europa League win over Braga, scoring the last goal in the 4-0 romp.
Cengiz Under (Leicester City) Nike Phantom GT Scorpion DF
In that same match, Leicester's Turkish international, Cengiz Ünder played in the recently released Nike Phantom GT Scorpion DF. The boot featured that encircled Scorpion logo in a homage to the famous 'Secret Tournament' ad from 18 years ago.
Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan) Nike Phantom GT Scorpion
Numerous players pulled on the special edition Nike Phantom GT 'Scorpion' this week, and Inter's Lautaro Martinez opted for the low-cut variation this weekend, scoring the opener in his side's 1-1 draw with Atalanta.
Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea) Next-gen adidas COPA
The next generation of the laceless adidas COPA has been seen on the feet of both Paulo Dybala and Joao Felix recently, and now Cesar Azpilicueta has given the first sign of the .1 laced variation in a recent Chelsea training session.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Arsenal) Next-gen adidas Predator
Alongside the next generation of COPA, the next-gen Predator has also been doing the rounds, and despite not being in favour at Arsenal, defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos has been the latest player to trial adidas's blackout prototype in training.
Martin Odegaard (Real Madrid) Next-gen Nike Mercurial Vapor
Adidas aren't the only brand with upcoming upgrades for their existing silos, with a prototype of the upcoming Mercurial doing the rounds. The latest player to be seen trialling the blackout boot was Real Madrid's Norweigian midfielder, Martin Ødegaard.
Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) Nike Tiempo Legend VIII
Sticking with Real Madrid, and Thibaut Courtois was seen in the Nike Tiempo Legend VIII from the recent 'Daybreak Pack'. Nothing hugely surprising, but Courtois is usually a Phantom player, but this switch suggests that the Belgian stopper may not be completely happy with the new Phantom GT model.
Rose Lavelle (Manchester City) New Balance Tekela V3 SE
As one of New Balance's key female athletes, American Rose Lavelle has enjoyed numerous signature edition Tekela's in the past, and that legacy continues with another exclusive colourway. Lavelle wore the boot in Man City's 3-0 FA WSL Cup win over Liverpool, scoring the second.
Javier Hernandez (LA Galaxy) Nike Mercurial Superfly IV
Chicharito continues to enjoy not being tied down to a boot contract, switching between brands from week to week. And this week saw him in the Nike Mercurial Superfly IV "Urban Lilac" colourway from 2015, scoring in the 1-1 draw with Seattle Sounders.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) Nike Mercurial Vapor XIII NBY
For Arsenal's Europa League clash with Molde, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang showed off a pair of Mercurial Vapor XIII, specially customised using the Nike By You service. The design combined the Gunner's traditional colours of red and white through the upper, mounted on top of a golden soleplate.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal) Nike CTR360 Maestri III
Another Arsenal player and yet another appearance on Boot Spotting for Ainsley Maitland-Niles. The England man has a fondness for a throwback, and this week he pulled on yet another colourway of the Nike CTR360 Maestri III. Clearly one of his favourite models...
Jack Clarke (Tottenham Hotspur) adidas F50 Adizero I
Flipping across north London to the Spurs training ground, where Jack Clarke went through the motions in the adidas F50 Adizero I from 2011.
Kostas Tsimikas (Liverpool) adidas Nemeziz 17+
Kostas Tsimikas continues to try to force his way into some game time at Liverpool, and this week he did so in the original adidas Nemeziz from 2017. The design showed off the agility bandage construction to its fullest, arriving as part of the 'Dust Storm' pack.
Ademola Lookman (Fulham) Nike Mercurial Vapor XIII NBY
Another display of the potential of the Nike By You service came on the feet of Ademola Lookman this weekend. Great combination of red and white with that lightning Swoosh that draws attention. Let's just not talk about that penalty though, yeah?