If it ain't broke, don't fix it. After years of fun tweaks and wild reimaginings (Predator Mutator, anyone?), Adidas has gone back to basics for the Adidas Predator 24. There are few boots that strike at the heart of generations of football players amateur and professional alike, with our personal holy trinity consisting of the Nike Total 90, Umbro Speciali and Adidas Predator. Marking three decades since the first Predator hit shelves, football pitches and school grounds, it makes sense that Adidas is looking to the OG Pred for some nostalgia-laden modern-day inspiration.
Combining the looks of the Original with the lightweight tech seen in more recent versions, the classic design and tongue strap are back, as Adidas revamps and upgrades the boots worn by Beckham, Zidane, Del Piero and Raúl for the modern game. The original colourway has been supercharged into glow-in-the-dark territory, including new highlighter yellow accents dotted throughout. It's the lightest boot in the Predator range to date, with grippy rubber and extra cushioning to ensure you don't feel like you're just wearing socks. The Predator 24 comes in laced and laceless styles too, but let's be honest: the only real option is with that archetypal, overwhelmingly nostalgic tongue. We're sure it adds ten goals a season to your game.
In the build-up to the launch, Jude Bellingham sported a pair of limited edition Predator 30 boots for Real Madrid, putting in the sort of performance Adidas would have dreamed about when it handed over a pair of the burgundy beauties. Celebrating a legacy of wondergoals and Ballon d'Ors? As far as passing on the torch, you can't get much better than Becks to Bellingham.
Trent Alexander-Arnold also helped tease the new release when he became the latest player to join the three stripes at the end of last year, and it's no secret that the Fantasy Football king is a major fan of the Preds. “I'm excited to be part of the long list of legendary players who wear Predator boots,” Trent told GQ before the launch. “It's an honour to be able to play in them.” Trent has cited Steven Gerrard as his childhood inspiration, lacing up his own Predators as a child to emulate Liverpool's number 8. “It all started for me in 2005,” he says in his Adidas announcement video. “Istanbul was what really inspired me back then. That game, those players… the boots.” Goosebumps.
While Skechers have bagged Bavaria's Harry Kane and zen supersoldier Erling Haaland reps Nike, there are plenty of top-tier players who could join Trent and Jude in wearing the Predator 24. Pedri, Alessia Russo, Kadidiatou Diani and Mo Salah are in line to rock them too, and England teammate Declan Rice is also on the books at Adidas, so expect him to boost Arsenal's goal tally in the second half of the season.
Want to relive your footballing glory days, or fancy upping your Sunday League stats? The Adidas Predator 24 boots are available from today at adidas.co.uk (footballing prowess not included).
