New Balance and Pro:Direct Soccer have added a new meaning to the common football phrase ‘finding space’, after sending the first ever pair of football boots into the stratosphere. Specifically belonging to Liverpool FC star Sadio Mané, the new ‘Infinite Lite Furon V5’ were launched into orbit ahead of the Reds’ clash with Chelsea at the weekend. 

The boots, which are the latest colourway for the brand’s Furon and Tekela models, were signed by the New Balance ambassador Mané before making a landmark voyage from their Yorkshire take-off point, with the aid of space experts ‘Sent into Space’ and YouTube sensations ‘Yung Filly’ and ‘Chunkz’.

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Attached to a hydrogen-filled balloon, the boot reached a height of 34,211 metres before returning to Earth, landing in an as yet undisclosed location. As part of a competition on Pro:Direct Soccer's Instagram, successfully predicting the landing location of the previously orbital boots will allow one lucky entrant the chance to get their hands on the new ‘out of this world’ release from New Balance.

Following the launch, Liverpool forward Mané was suitably and kinda contractually obliged to be impressed with his boot’s journey into the atmosphere and inevitably explained, “It’s amazing to see my boots in space - hopefully I can reach the same heights and help the team all the way to the title this season!” See.

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The New Balance Infinite Lite Pack is available now from prodirectsoccer.com