Five of Our Favourite Soccer-Inspired Sneakers
Football – the round-ball kind, that is – doesn’t have quite the fashion influence as other sports. Sure, and have seen a revival recently, but their impact on the sneakerverse is nothing compared to that of basketball shoes (and besides, they’re indoor soccer shoes). That’s not to say there haven’t been any soccer-inspired sneaks – there have been some gems. So, we thought we’d take the opportunity during the quadrennial celebration of the World Game to look back at some of our favourites.
adidas ACE 16+ UltraBOOST
If there’s one thing that’ll take a cleat from the pitch to the streets, it’s a few hype-worthy tweaks to make non-athletic sneakerheads take notice. What tweaks, you ask? A co-sign, upper, and sole should do it. And, that’s exactly what did with the , swapping out the performance tech features for details more suited to everyday life.
adidas Nemeziz Tango
If Fieg involvement is the yardstick to measure a shoe’s successful field-to-fashion migration, then the Nemeziz Tango also makes the cut. The creative director was on a bit of a pink kick it seems, washing two Nemeziz in the same blush tones as the ACE 16+. It may not be equipped to manoeuvre around the field, but its Torsion Tape upper will still hold up under training conditions, making it one good-looking all-rounder.
Nike Footscape Magista
The Three Stripes aren’t the only ones giving their performance gear a lifestyle-tinged makeover; have done their fair share as well. The is a prime example. Taking the Flyknit Magista, Nike fine-tuned the upper for the streets, removing the weatherproofing, adding a leather heel cap, and swapping out the spikes for the Footscape’s segmented sole. With sock-like comfort above and a flexible footbed below, it’s the best of both worlds.
Neymar Jr x Air Jordan 5
Soccer-inspired sneakers needn’t look like football boots, because there are more options than just slapping a comfy sole where once there was spikes. Case in point is 3M-covered . The Brazilian player is a famed sneakerhead – we’ve all seen his episode of Sneaker Shopping – and so his partnership with the was a no-brainer.
Nike Air Max Plus ‘French Derby’ Pack
Soccer fans are known for being a raucous bunch, and their team allegiance fuels long-running rivalries that can evoke the strongest of passions and opinions. The French Derby between and Olympique de Marseille is one such rivalry. What better way to commemorate the heated competition between Paris in the north and Marseille in the south than the chosen shoe of the hooligan – the .