What the Highest Goal Scorers Will Wear This Season

Goals

1.

Goals

With the new 2013/14 kicking off in Europe, there is one thing every fan out there is already looking forward to seeing – goals! We all love a good, fast paced, free flowing game where there is plenty of attacking players and the keepers are being kept busy.

Let's take a look at the boots that are being used by the best attacking talent in the game and bring you our top 5 list of what boots to watch out for this season. You can quickly see that the most highly marketed boots are the ones that sit near the top of the list, and it illustrates the lengths companies go to in order to win the boot war! This is What the Highest Goal Scorers Will Wear This Season.

Bryan Byrne is the founder of SoccerCleats101. Got a question about boots? Hit up Bryan on Twitter.

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2.

CTR360 - Top Goalscorers

No. 5 – Nike CTR360 Maestri IV

As worn by: Mario Balotelli, Carlos Tevez, Rickie Lambert, Andres Iniesta

Since their release, Nike has continually drilled the “playmaker” factor into our thinking about the CTR360 Maestri range. They are intended to provide the attacking midfielder with the extra tool needed to own the game. Given their purpose and performance benefits, you can’t argue with the stance Nike has taken. Yet, this hasn’t stopped some of the top strikers in the world from throwing on a pair.

It is the latter player on the above list that sets the trend for the style of this boot. Iniesta is a true creator and there are not many better players in the world with a key attacking eye. Balotelli is a player who never strays far from controversy, yet he is also the perfect type of striker to promote the boot off. They are an ideal match for his attacking style, where he uses his strength to win the ball and his guile to create opportunities. Although not nearly as crafty, Rickie Lambert also possesses a strong physique and is complimented by the added technology placed on the instep and forefoot of the boot.

3.

evoSPEED - Top Goalscorers

No. 4 – Puma evoSPEED 1.2

As worn by: Sergio Aguero, Falcao, Alexander Meier, Olivier Giroud

Puma has been pretty specific with the type of players they have signed up to wear the evoSPEED. It is tough pulling players from the grasp of Nike and Adidas, but Puma has managed to do just that with some key players. The evoSPEED is another relatively new boot to the market, but it has already made a significant name for itself with attacking players. There is a certain level of simplicity associated with the boot and that transfers into a comfortable, dynamic piece of equipment.

Falcao and Sergio Aguero have been the two key players used by Puma to promote the speed boot, and given both players qualities it is testament to what it has to offer. Both players work very hard on the pitch and you will often see them track back to win back the ball. In a sense, you could reference them as being extremely passionate players, who like to run a lot. The comfort level provided by the evoSPEED sets the correct tone for them to do what they do!

4.

Hypervenom - Top Goalscorers

No. 3 – Nike Hypervenom Phantom

As worn by: Neymar, Gonzalo Higuain, Christian Benteke, Wayne Rooney, Miroslav Klose, Robert Lewandowski, Isco, Danny Wellbeck

We were only introduced to the Hypervenom a few months back and they have already become a key boot on the market. That is, of course, partly due to the extensive marketing of the boot and high profile stunts to get the seen by all levels of player. Nike spent extensive time researching a new and very exact type of boot, with agility sitting front and center of their new creation. The result is a boot that features a mesh, NikeSkin upper (never before seen on a soccer cleat) and a dedicated soleplate intended to allow maximum movement through play.

The addition of Neymar as the focus player through release was absolutely key and it could not have happened at a more perfect time. The overall marketing execution by Nike was impressive. First, they were released before the Confederations Cup in Brazil, where Neymar absolutely stole the spotlight. And then it was just prior to the announcement he would be heading to Spain to join forces with Barcelona.

We are sure to see more players switch to the new boot over time, so considering the line-up of players already wearing the boot, it shows there is something quite special about them.

5.

Vapor IX - Top Goalscorers

No. 2 – Nike Mercurial Vapor IX

As worn by: Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovich, Mario Mandzukic, Romelu Lukaku, Diego Costa, Eden Hazard, Didier Drogba, Oscar Cardozo

Many would place the Nike Mercurial Vapor right at the top of boots for attacking players and I would completely agree. Over their life span, the Vapor has been gently transformed into an explosive speed boot. Even the upper of the boots has gradually been modified, with the latest Vapor IX release featuring a dimpled, ultra-thin microfiber upper. It is the soleplate and stud configuration that has continually set the Vapor apart from other releases on the market, with fast penetration and release top of Nike’s priority list.

Over the past few years, Cristiano Ronaldo has been the key figure used in Vapor advertising campaigns. Nike is really not afraid to switch in and out other high-profile players, but CR7 has dominated and even has his own CR7 range of boots and clothing. Interestingly, the release of the Hypervenom has taken some shine from the Vapor range and several players have switched to the new agility boot. But the Vapor continues to be the top Nike choice of amateur and pro players.

6.

F50 - Top Goalscorers

No. 1 – adidas F50 adiZero

As worn by: Lionel Messi, Robin Van Persie, Alvaro Negrado, Roberto Soldado, Edinson Cavani, Luis Suarez, Gareth Bale

Although adidas only has one boot placed on this list, it is a boot that most of the top players in the world are currently wearing. Everything about the F50 adiZero is geared toward lightweight speed and acceleration. They are built as one of the lightest boots on the market yet they have been fine-tuned and build to offer players a durable base through wear. In actuality, the F50 adiZero is a relatively new boot to the market, only released in 2004.

Lionel Messi leads everything to do with the range and he is the current face of the boot. How could he not be considering he is already one of the greatest players to ever play the game? Robin Van Persie recently made a bold switch from the Predator range to the F50 and has already bagged several important goals in the new boots. And then there is Gareth Bale. His name is all over the backpages at the moment, with an impending move to Real Madrid sure to elevate his status to astronomical heights. adidas will surely be pretty pleased about that!

One thing to note about the F50 adiZero is that a lot of pro players choose to wear the leather version of the boot. When we are treated to new, exclusive colorways, players are often guided toward the synthetic version – yet that is not what the pros are wearing.