This round of international fixtures has provided the perfect platform for players to show off some new special editions, while others have been quick to slip on the latest releases or some throwback classics. That combined with some upcoming releases on the feet of those not on international duty and we’ve got ourselves a good week of Boot Spotting. Let’s see who made the cut…
Marcus Rashford (England) Nike Mercurial Superfly VII
Marcus Rashford played and scored against Belgium in a special edition pair of Nike Mercurial boots, presented to him to celebrate Black History Month. The boots featured messages from children who have been helped by Rashford’s efforts to combat child food poverty in the UK.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) Nike Mercurial Superfly CR7
Nike recently presented Cristiano Ronaldo with a special edition pair of Mercurial Superfly boots to celebrate him becoming the first European to score 100 international goals – a landmark he reached in Portugal’s Nations League win over Sweden in September. He then wore them in Portugal's 0-0 Nations League match with France.
Kylian Mbappe (France) Nike Mercurial Superfly Dream Speed 3
While Ronaldo was busy showing off his special edition Mercurials, honouring his international goal-scoring feats, it fell to the other main names of the Dream Speed series to represent the third instalment. And Kylian Mbappe was only too quick to make the switch from his own signature edition for the France v Portugal game.
Sam Kerr (Chelsea) Nike Mercurial Superfly Dream Speed 3
The third in Nike's Dream Speed triumvirate, Australian Sam Kerr also switched into the third instalment in the series this week, and she made it a goal-scoring switch, notching in Chelsea's huge 3-1 win over title rivals Manchester City.
Erling Braut Haaland (Norway) Nike Mercurial Vapor Dream Speed 3
While the Dream Speed 3 has again been fronted primarily by CR7, Mbappe and Kerr, there has been the introduction of a whole raft of younger players, including Ansu Fati and Vinicius Junior. And now Erling Braut Haaland has been added to the ranks, wearing the Vapor model in Norway's Euro 2020 qualifying loss to Serbia. He then went on to bag a hat-trick against Romania in the Nations League in them.
Koke (Atletico Madrid) Unreleased adidas Predator Mutator 20.1
While the international contingent are away, the rest of the squad will play – well that's certainly the case in Atletico Madrid, where Koke debuted an upcoming colourway of the adidas Predator Mutator 20.1 low. The new look sees a lighter base joined by hits of red and blue, and will likely be released later this month.
Saul Niguez (Atletico Madrid) Next-Gen Nike Mercurial Vapor
Sticking with Atletico Madrid training, and Saul Niguez was seen wearing the prototype of the next-gen Mercurial Vapor in training. This boot has been seen on the feet of several players now, including Jadon Sancho, who wore the Superfly in England's win over Belgium. Must mean that we're getting nearer a release date, as Nike continue to iron out the creases.
Memphis Depay (Netherlands) Under Armour Magnetico SL
Following on from Trent Alexander-Arnold's special edition Clone Magnetico pros last week, this week Under Armour roll out the special pink treatment on to Memphis Depay's Magnetico SLs, all in aid of Breast Cancer awareness month. He wore them in Holland's 1-0 friendly loss against Mexico.
Hector Moreno (Mexico) adidas Predator Mania
In that same friendly match between Holland and Mexico, Hector Moreno was spotted wearing the adidas Predator Mania rerelease, which came out last December. Always a pleasure to see on pitch. The Predator that is. Not that we have anything against Moreno...
Serge Aurier (Ivory Coast) Nike Phantom GT
Serge Aurier is always worth keeping an eye on when it comes to Boot Spotting, with an eclectic taste that often catches the eye. And that was the case again this week, when he wore a pair of Nike Phantom GT in Ivory Coast's 1-1 draw with Belgium, specially customised using the Nike By You service. And they were quite the combo alongside the Elephants' new away shirt.
Thiago Silva (Brazil) Nike Tiempo Legend VII
Thiago Silva has been changing up his Nike repertoire over recent weeks, and that was typified this week when he wore both the Tiempo Legend VII from the 'Play Fire' pack and the Tiempo Legend VI 'Radiant Reveal' in Brazil's 5-0 World Cup qualifying win against Bolivia, starting off in the former and ending in the latter.
Carlos Vinicius (Tottenham Hotspur) Nike Mercurial Vapor VIII
Tottenham new boy started life as a Spurs player by training in the Nike Mercurial Vapor VIII. It's not a new choice for the Brazilian, as he's worn them previously at parent club Benfica, but it's a nice sight for the Premier League.
