subject: adiZero Takes Top Spot at Annual Football Boots Awards [print this page] adiZero Takes Top Spot at Annual Football Boots Awards
The ceremony, hosted by Footy-Boots.com, now in it's 5th year sees the boot-buying public at large vote for their revered footwear based on appearance, value and performance.
After trailing behind Nike at the past few ceremonies, adidas' F50 adiZero has been a passionately successful release for the 3 stripes, as the lightest shoe in adidas' stable the adiZero was answerable for the most goals at this summer's World Cup, and has seen leading footballers such as Nicolas Anelka of English Champions Chelsea FC and Diego Milito of UEFA Champions League Winners Inter Milan join the likes of Barcelona Mega-stars Lionel Messi & Devid Villa in wearing the cleats.
adidas also took home the prize for the 'Safest Football Boot 2010', thanks to their illustrious adidas Predator range. The latest in the legacy, the Predator_X, was deemed by voters to be the sturdiest, and one of the most likely cleats on the market to protect players feet on the turf when going in for heavy tackles.
Nike weren't without their say, though - as the American brand claimed 3 awards for themselves, including the 'Panel's choice for Soccer Boot of the Year with the new CTR360 Maestri, 'Most Outrageous Colourway 2010' for the luminous green T90 Laser III and the coveted 'Most Innovative Football Boot' award for their high-tech Mercurial Vapor Superfly II.
Soccer Shirts also have a say in the awards, with Puma claiming the 'Football Shirt of the Year' for their Africa Unity Kit. After staving off competition from the likes of Umbro, Nike and adidas, Puma were excited to see their experimental kit get it's just desserts; the shirt itself is unique as in January 2010 it became the first ever 'Continental' football shirt, with FIFA approving it as the 3rd kit for all of the Puma-sponsored African teams - an exceptional move from the usually stuffy FIFA.
The experts at Footy-Boots.com anticipate another year of big launches ahead of the 2011 awards, predicting that we could see new versions of this year's winners from Nike, such as the CTR360 Maestri II and Mercurial Vapor Superfly III and some updates from the adidas camp as well, including the adiPure IV and a release for the oft-rumoured adiZero Prime.