Here in the US, we are treated to the largest selection of soccer footwear anywhere in the World. Not only are we treated to numerous exclusive colorways from top brands like Nike, adidas and Puma, but we always get the best of smaller companies like Diadora, Lotto and Pele Sports, just to name a few. A few months back, Mizuno even jumped into the market giving us more choices. But, outside of the big brands who can invest in advertising, what other companies are the to watch out for? Internationally, there are a lot of big brands that we just don't get mass exposure to. For that reason, we compiled the best of the best and compiled them in a top 10 list.
This is 10 Soccer Brands You've Never Heard Of.
Bryan Byrne is the founder of SoccerCleats101. Got a question about boots? Hit up Bryan on Twitter.
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No. 10 – Patrick
Country: France
Growing up in Europe, Patrick was a commonly found boot company and their boots had a reputation for being affordable with decent performance. In recent years, we saw the brand go through resurgence before they took a hiatus last year. There boots usually stick to the basics of a black upper with k-leather employed.
No. 9 – Penalty
Country: Brazil
A brand that is better known for their gloves than boots is Penalty, yet they hit the market running in 2011 with a boot that used QR codes to share data. Their S11 Pro release featured Termotec technology that uses the thermal welding process in strategic areas of the footwear structure. With Victor Valdes in place as a lead ambassador, things seemed set to really take off for Penalty, but since Valdes has switched brands and we haven’t heard quite as much from penalty as of late.
No. 8 – Cruyff Sports
Country: Holland
Johan Cruyff is known to be one of the best soccer players to ever grace a pitch and his style reinvented people’s ideas of the game. Several years ago, he masterminded the creation of a shoe that he was proud to place his name behind and it is still a company in ascendancy. The boots are crafted by Italian masters to Cruyff’s specifications, designed to suit the well-balanced player. His entire range is as you would expect, fashioned in a 1970’s mold with plenty of modern features; a black, super soft k-leather upper with plenty of stitching through the forefoot and a balanced soleplate.
No. 7 – Pan
Country: Thailand
As a leader in the South East Asian market, Pan is a company that has the ability to spread their wealth of boots to a wider pasture. A lot of their ideas seem to come from the larger companies, with Pan adding their own spin and keeping prices at a much lower price point. Several players on the Thai national team currently wear the boots, showing that they do have some uptake on the international level. Outside of Asia, it is pretty tough to find a pair.
No. 6 – Topper
Founded: Argentina
If you play in South America (Brazil or Argentina specifically), one of your top options comes in the form of Topper, and they have a solid selection of boots. Their range of boots is very modern, taking inspiration from other speed boots on the market. Featuring lightweight materials and flashy colors, they are easily recognizable on field.
No. 5 – X-Blades
Founded: Australia
A company increasing their market presence over the past year has been X-Blades. Not only have they become a player in the Australian Aussie Rules market, but they have also extended their reach to soccer and rugby players in the US. The majority of technology is based in the soleplate, XRS, otherwise known as the X Release System, is a cleverly engineered blade pattern that releases its grip when strain becomes too high.
No. 4 – Pantofola d’Oro
Country: Italy
Pantofola has become a household name in Europe over the past few years, with some iconic releases coming from the traditionalist company. The Italian brand has been around for a long, long time and their boots are about as heritage as it gets. Yet, their recent approach has been geared toward wilder colors and an imaginative palette that seems to appeal to a younger generation. Look at this company as the old-school company that wants to connect with a younger demographic!
No. 3 – Cinquestelle
Country: Italy
Cinquestelle, which translates to “Five Stars” in English, is a fitting name for this unique brand that specializes in creating handmade leather football boots. Unlike your standard generic company, these guys actually hand makes each boot on site to the exact specifications of the player that is ordering. Founded in 1997, Cinquestelle can proudly trace its origins to way back in 1911, when Pasquale Lazzarini (1882-1969) returning from a long apprenticeship as a shoemaker, established his own shoemaker’s shop in Ascoli, Piceno.
No. 2 – Hummel
Country: Germany
Although founded in Germany, we often associate Hummel with being a Danish company as that is where their boots and jerseys are more commonly found these days. In the past, we have seen the brand release some awesome, very exclusive, limited edition boots and each has had some sort of bizarre addition. For example, we have seen gold used and also pony hair. In terms of performance, their boots are very classy and have a lot of positives to offer players right across the pitch.
No. 1 – Ryal
Country: Italy
Ryal is an Italian designed footwear company who has been around since the 1940′s. Their boots are entirely handmade in Fucecchio, Italia and in similar fashion to the likes of Pantofola D’oro, this small company has stuck local. Their boots offer an old school look but with a very modern performance package. You only need to look at a ball like the pictured La Storia to understand what they are all about. Things are very clean, classy and have a broad reach between traditionalist and modern players.
