Lionel Messi will wear a modified version of the brand new Adidas Messi Pibe de Barr10 Soccer Cleats in today's UEFA Champions League clash against Manchester City.
For the best players in the world, Adidas, Puma and Nike customize their boots based on personal specification. Cristiano Ronaldo has received a Nike Mercurial Superfly Boot with a lower Dynamic Fit collar, while Lionel Messi has sported a custom boot with leather in the forefoot area over the past several years.
Lionel Messi to debut custom Adidas Pibe de Barr10 Boots
Messi trains in custom Adidas Messi Pibe de Barr10 Boots.
As Messi prefers the feel of natural leather, the custom Adidas Messi Pibe de Barr10 Boots have a leather forefoot area with a distinctive stitching for a long lasting fit.
To create a leather-like synthetic retail version of the Adidas Messi Pibe de Barr10 boot, Adidas removed the shiny 3D Dribbletex print from the Hybridtouch upper of the standard Adidas Messi Pibe de Barrio Football Boots. Hybridtouch combines the feel of natural leather with no water uptake.
While Lionel Messi has been a long-term wearer of a leather Adidas F50 Adizero Boots, the new custom Adidas Pibe de Barrio Messi 2015 Cleats also feature a completely modified outsole, made exclusively for Adidas' signature athlete.
The retail version of the Adidas Messi Pibe de Barr10 Boots brings the sole plate of the Adidas F50 Adizero 2015 Boot to the signature Messi Boot.
The sole plate of the Adidas F50 Adizero 2015 Soccer Cleat features a second-level of traction and no external heel counter, whereas Messi's custom Adidas Pibe de Barr10 Boot uses the Sprintframe outsole of the 2014 Adidas F50 Adizero. Visually, the retail version boasts a unique graphic design, while Messi's custom outsole is solid black.
Watch out for Lionel Messi's custom Adidas Messi Pibe de Barr10 Boot in today's match against Manchester City and in El Clásico against Real Madrid on Sunday.