adidas F50

There’s been something missing in the soccer world. We’re not talking about an El Clasico featuring Messi and Ronaldo— though we do miss that. No, the soccer world has been waiting almost a decade for another pair of adidas F50 soccer cleats. The F50s are famous in the arsenal of adidas soccer cleats because they’re the cleats Messi wore through his rise up the ranks of soccer immortality. 

The 2024 F50s are shaping up to be a Messi-esque revival as they come equipped with a Sprintframe 360 outsole sure to have you carving a path to greatness. The Fibertouch upper is super strong despite an almost weightless feel. The Sprintweb 3D texture on the upper provides extra grip and control, ensuring these boots are more than just a speed cleat. With free shipping on orders over $75, SoccerPro has you ready for takeoff.

adidas F50 Soccer Cleats: A Legend Remade

Picture this: it’s an unseasonably warm December afternoon in the Spanish city of Valladolid. A crowd of 22,000 gazes onto the pitch, all wondering, “Can he notch another?” There’s a first-half goal by the visiting Barcelona club, but who cares? As the first half gives way to the second, the anticipation builds. Then, in the 59th minute, he takes a pass, dribbles between a defender’s legs, and rifles off a shot past two more defenders and out of reach of the diving keeper! 

They’ve just witnessed Lionel Messi’s 91st goal of the year, solidifying his place in soccer lore. At his feet? An equally legendary pair of adidas soccer shoes, the adidas F50s.

When did the adidas F50 originally come out?

The original adidas F50s were released in 2004 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Germany winning the most famous football cup in the world. At first, the boot appealed to players like Del Piero and Trezeguet, who enjoyed how the F50 aided their goal-scoring capabilities. But there were already the adidas Predators for players looking for precision striking. If the F50s were going to survive, they needed to blaze a unique trail.

Very quickly, the F in F50 became synonymous with fast. The original F50s weren’t exactly designed as speed boots, but after the first generation, they quickly became a staple for fast players who could finish.

What are the adidas F50s known for?

A highlight of the early F50s was their customization. They introduced removable studs and insoles to enable players to customize the fit and fine-tune the cleat to the playing surface.

The second generation of F50 soccer shoes also introduced the world to a spiderweb design on the uppers of the cleats. All the old-heads out there remember how perfect this moment was, Spider-Man movies and spiderweb cleats. You had to be there. 

The F50s are also an unmistakable sight on the pitch, thanks to their incredibly cool colorways. Fans have longed to snag a pair of 2010 F50s in Chameleon Purple. Maybe the coolest cleat ever?

As the F50 silo developed, it remained at the forefront of soccer cleat technology. The F50s were adidas’ entry in the famed race to the lightest cleats ever. The F50 Adizero 99s got their name because they only weighed 99 grams. That’s right; you could step out onto the pitch in a pair of cleats as light as a deck of cards. The 2010s were a wild time. 

Eventually, though, the lightweight, speed silo was shifted into the adidas X, and the F50s weren’t nearly retro enough for the vintage-inspired adidas Copa silo. After 2015, it seemed like F50 would go the way of the Whip and Nae Nae. 

Adidas F50 2024 Features

It’s been 20 years since the first F50s arrived, and they’ve finally made their long-anticipated return. For this latest entry in the prized silo, adidas has managed to incorporate all the elements that made them the hottest and fastest cleats on the market. 

Features on the cleats at the top of the F50 lineup include either a Fibertouch or Hybridtouch upper. Messi prefers the Hybridtouch upper, which you’ll find on his signature cleat. The Fibertouch upper on the F50 Elites provides a lightweight upper with additional cushioning. The result brings you closer to the natural feeling of kicking the ball barefoot without bruising your foot. 

The latest F50s also include Sprintweb 3D texturing on the uppers, a little homage to the spiderweb design of the early F50s. This extra texturing aids in controlling the ball for precision dribbling, passing, and shooting. These boots aren’t all speed and no scoring.

Underneath, the F50 boasts a Sprintframe 360 soleplate. The layout and stud styles create an outsole for accelerating and making explosive cuts. The greats don’t hesitate, why should you?

To top it all off, the latest F50s are available in a Cloud White, Solar Red, and Lucid Blue colorway. It isn’t exactly Chameleon Purple, but it’s definitely the inspiration. 

Who Wears the F50?

The pair of adidas soccer cleats Messi wore for that fateful December match were adidas F50 Adizero 3rd edition in bright yellow—perfect for making a statement. The F50 was, and will be again, the go-to adidas soccer shoe for the Argentine superstar. His first signature boot was a modified F50, after all. 

But Messi isn’t the only superstar decked out in the F50s.

The Egyptian phenom, Mohammed Salah, sometimes called the ‘Egyptian Messi,’ also sports the adidas F50s. Salah has long favored a speed cleat, wearing a signature X Speedportal in previous seasons. We can only hope there’s an Egyptian Nights-inspired F50 on the horizon.

Rising superstar Lamine Yamal might be the next soccer superstar to make their name in the F50s. Like Messi before him, Yamal is making a name for himself at Barcelona. Known for his dribbling, speed, and technique, Yamal dazzles at an incredible early point in his career.  We’ve got to ask—will he notch 92 goals in a pair of adidas F50s?