40. Lotto Pu Vento, 2001
Most iconic colourway: Black/green
Other colourways: Black/silver, gold/blue
Stars who wore them: Cafu, Edu Gaspar, Andriy Shevchenko
Lotto boots scream nostalgia, of Serie A in the 90s, of classy strikers, bullet train full-backs. Who could forget scuffing up the silver bits on these ones. This pair is arguably the most recognisable of all the manufacturer's efforts.
39. New Balance Furon, 2020
Most iconic colourway: Red/silver
Other colourways: White/silver, blue/orange
Stars who wore them: Sadio Mane, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling
New Balance's Furon of last year is perhaps the greatest-ever Mercurial Vapor that Nike didn't make. It's light, stylish and comes in great colours - if it's good enough for Mane and Saka...
38. Adidas Supernova, 2005
Most iconic colourway: Black/silver
Other colourways: -
Stars who wore them: Patrick Vieira, Frank Lampard
The Adidas Supernova is an intriguing football boot. It was a standalone release, with no upgrade or rework later on, designed to capitalise on the Predator Mania's success, only go more minimal.
These black and silver beauties were short-lived but ultimately the last "proper old-school football boots" before Adi revisited the Copa range. A moment in time, indeed.
37. Nike, What The Mercurial, 2016
Most iconic colourway: Errmm... that one
Other colourways: -
Stars who wore them: -
What do you do when you've made dozens of iconic Mercurial boots? Well... put them together into one product. Nike have done this kind of thing with shirts, too - Arsenal and Manchester City both got mash-up kits when they left the American manufacturer - and this special edition boot brings back all kinds of memories.
36. Nike Phantom Scorpion, 2021
Most iconic colourway: Silver/black
Other colourways: -
Stars who wore them: Mason Mount, Phil Foden, Rodrygo
The Nike Phantom was already cool enough before Nike created a Scorpion version or honour the famous adverts of the early-00s. The shimmering, scorpion-embossed silver and black creation became an instant classic, despite being worn by kids too young to remember Cantona's epic Hunger Games style-football tournament.
35. Lotto Zhero Gravity, 2006
Most iconic colourway: White/gold
Other colourways: -
Stars who wore them: Luca Toni, Andriy Shevchenko
Lotto is a brand that players of the 80s would love - so when the company started a research and development centre to make a new "Zhero Gravity" boot, you could understand if eyes rolled. Thankfully, these white/gold efforts were beautiful and one we still look back on fondly.
34. Adidas X Ghosted, 2020
Most iconic colourway: White/gold
Other colourways: yellow/black, red/white
Stars who wore them: Mohamed Salah, Son Heung-min, Gabriel Jesus
The X Ghosted boots were released as recently as lockdown - but they're space-age. They're beautiful, inspired by track athletes and birds of prey and they're so light they almost float. Not to mention how beautiful they are too: a boot fit for an Egyptian king (among others).
33. Nike Mercurial Vapor X, 2014
Most iconic colourway: Coral/yellow
Other colourways: Green/red, orange/white
Stars who wore them: Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden Hazard
Sometimes, the colour of a football boot is enough to spark memories. That's true of 2014's coral Vapors which were worn by the great and the good in the blazing Brazilian sunshine. They looked fantastic, they were lighter than ever and they stand alongside most Vapors since. Bravo.
32. Adidas Predator, 1994
Most iconic colourway: Black/red/white
Other colourways: -
Stars who wore them: Paul Gascoigne
Back in '94, Adidas brought out the first ever Predator. By adding rubber parts to the upper of the studs for improved power and finesse, the German brand had invented something that had never been seen before. It is now a cornerstone of the football boot world.
31. Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly II, 2010
Most iconic colourway: Silver/orange
Other colourways: -
Stars who wore them: Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba
The silver and orange colourway is iconic now. These were first shown to the world in an incredible Nike ad featuring Roger Federer, the greatest players on earth and Homer Simpson. They don't look as good now as they did then - they look better.
