Shields at Wembley and medals in Rio. A diverse week of football saw a variety of competitions, from pre-season tours to Olympic clashes, to the return of domestic football. Action from every angle. Here's what jumped out at us from the footwear frame.
Kevin De Bruyne (Man City) Nike Magista Obra II
Here's Kevin De Bruyne wondering why he's playing for Manchester City against fellow Premier League club Arsenal in Gothenburg on Sunday. Well Kev, modern money obsessed pre-season tours are weird mate. That's why. The Belgian forward was laced up in Sweden wearing the new Nike 'Elite Pack' Magista Obra II ahead of the collection hitting the shelves next week.
Gerard Pique (Barcelona) Nike Tiempo Legend 6
Gerard Pique also switched into the new Nike 'Elite Pack' at the weekend by wearing the Tiempo Legend 6 at Wembley as Barcelona were beaten 4-0 by Liverpool. The complete collection that runs across the Hypervenom, Mercurial and Magista drops on August 16 and will be worn by all of Nike's leading players. Have to say that Barca away kit is massively growing on us.
Dayro Moreno (Tijuana) adidas ACE 16.1 Primeknit
When you sign for Tijuana, you do so on a red form, with a red pen. The Mexican club have a bizarre rule that all their players must wear red footwear to match the club's primary colour. This rule leads to some top notch all-red professionally customised football boots. It also leads to some really bad ones. E.g. Dayro Moreno's semi coloured in adidas ACE 16.1 Primeknit disasters.
Memphis Depay (Man United) Under Armour Spotlight 2.0
Memphis Depay will be hoping for a lot more game time this season under Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford, as will Under Armour who invested heavily in the Dutch winger. The former PSV man was in action at Wayne Rooney's testimonial against Everton wearing the new Under Armour silo – the Spotlight 2.0, an evolution of the Speedform model.
Shuang Wang (China) adidas X 15.1
You know when you get home in the early hours of the morning from a heavy night out on several suspect substances and log straight onto miadidas? We've all been there. Those suspect substances that Shuang Wang was on were obvious in Olympic regulations as she was in action for China in Rio this week wearing a crazy X 15.1 colourway. Trippy.
Jimmy Ryan (Fleetwood) adidas Gloro 16.1
The return of the newly brand EFL kicked off at the weekend giving players across the three leagues the chance to show off their weapons of choice for the new campaign. For Fleetwood Town's Jimmy Ryan it was all about the adidas Gloro 16.1 in a smart tri-coloured stripe scheme. Almost three times less expensive than some of the 'top' boots on the market at a cool £80.
Lee Wallace (Rangers) Nike Tiempo Legend 6
Lee Wallace wore one of the cleaner customised colourways at the weekend as Rangers marked their return to the Scottish Premiership with a 1-1 draw at home to Hamilton. Keeping things simple with an all blue upper to match his club's colours, Wallace completed his complementing design with white Swooshes and soles.
Christiane (Brazil) adidas X 16+ Purechaos
One of the hottest boots on show at the Olympics this summer is the women's specific X 16+ Purechaos colourway. Wrapped in white and solar red with a fade print where the colours merge, the boot is being worn by the majority of adidas female players, including Christiane of the host nation Brazil.
Michail Antonio (West Ham) Umbro Velocita II
Is Michail Antonio on the verge of signing for Umbro? The West Ham all rounder marked the club's first ever game at their new Olympic Stadium wearing the latest Velocita II colourway. It would be some coup for the Double Diamond to lure Antonio, who was one of the Hammers star players last season, away from adidas.
Marjory Nyaumwe (Zimbabwe) Puma evoSPEED 3.4
When you've got that hair cut you can't just wear a pair of boring old black boots can you? Marjory Nyaumwe opted for the takedown evoSPEED 3.4 Tricks design in "Orange Blowfish/Electric Blue Lemonade" as Zimbabwe took on Canada at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Strong look, Marjory. We're calling it the Drunken Spider.
Idrissa Gueye (Everton) adidas X 16.1
From one extreme to the other. Here's Idriss Gueye with his short back and sides and complete blackout boots. The Everton man was quick to pick up a pair of the adidas "Dark Space" X 16.1 boots that dropped late last week to lace up against Espanyol at Goodison Park on Saturday. Undeniably cool.
