Messi has worn different brands of shoes during his career. But some shoes stand out because he was directly involved in them.
The global market for soccer shoes is projected to grow by 5.4% annually between now and 2028, totaling $24.5 billion. The success of this particular market is very much founded on the success of the soccer stars who promote it. That's why Adidas pays Messi a cool $25 million a year to endorse the company's cleats.
Like Adidas, at Join The Planet, we believe that the product that is in between the world's best soccer players and the ball that brings joy to all kinds of people around the world is worth our attention. We’ve collaborated with Messi to design a unique collectible piece that’s literally an artwork. But before introducing it, we’re sharing an article that will review all the cleats that Messi has used in his career. Considering who was wearing them, most of them can be considered a piece of artwork, why not.
Can you buy Messi’s shoes?
Unlike a tissue with Messi's tears supposedly picked up from the trash by a fan and put up for sale for a million dollars on an e-commerce site, the original boots worn by Lionel Messi are usually not for sale. Sadly, at least for now, it's usually not possible to buy a boot drenched in the sweat of soccer’s most relevant superstar.
There are some exceptions. For example, in 2021, Messi auctioned a pair of cleats with which he had broken a Pelé record, and succeeded in bringing in more than $150,000 which he donated to charity. So, even if you’ll eventually find opportunities to buy his cleats, it’s not the usual purchase — and it comes at a high price point. There are more accessible cleats that you can have at home as memorabilia, including his collaboration with Join The Planet to develop artwork cleats with recycled materials.
Considering we mentioned how hard his cleats are to come by, at least you can buy the models he’s been wearing. Not his shoes proper, but the same styles. Read on to learn about the different shoes Messi has worn in his career.
For just $359 USD, you can buy a Messi ornamental boot with his signature, online, right now →Messi’s short Nike era
Messi made his debut for Barcelona on November 16, 2003, at the age of 16, in a friendly match against Porto to inaugurate their stadium. Back then, Barça had a deal with Nike, so Messi's boots in his early career, from 2003 to 2005, were Nike models. During this brief period, Messi sported the Nike Vapor (2004), Nike Air Zoom Total 90 (2005), and Nike Tiempo Legend (2006).
The Adidas era begins: Adidas +F50 and Adidas +F30
In 2006, Messi had already made a name for himself. By then, he had been the top scorer in the FIFA U-20 World Cup and was part of the Barcelona team that won the Copa España in 2005. Adidas didn't miss the opportunity and signed a long-term contract with the future world champion. Between 2006 and 2010, Messi made masterful plays wearing the Adidas F50 Tunit+ (2006), Adidas +F30.7 TRX (2007), Adidas F50.8 Tunit (2008), Adidas F50.8 Tunit gold (2009), Adidas F50.8 Tunit I (2009), and the Adidas F50.8 Tunit I gold (2010).
Source: adidas,com
Many soccer fans remember when he scored in the 2009 Champions League finals and celebrated with a TV camera, kissing his boot. The curious detail was that he actually scored that goal… with a header.
Source: Getty Images
Adidas Adizero
The Adidas Adizero were the brand's first ultralight boots, launched in 2010. Messi wore them from the time they first came out until 2014. These five years were a big deal for his career. From 2010 to 2014, Messi won three Ballon d'Or awards (in 2011, 2012, and 2013) and three Golden Boots (2010, 2012, and 2013) while wearing different versions of this shoe. During this period, he also won “La Liga” three times with Barcelona (2010, 2011, and 2013) and reached the final of the 2014 World Cup with Argentina.
These are the Adidas Adizero models Messi used during these golden years: F50 Adizero (2010), F50 Adizero II (2011), Ballon D’Or Gold F50 Adizero (2012), F50 Adizero III (2012-2013), F50 Adizero IV (2014-2014), Mi Adidas F50 ADIZERO (2014), Adidas Samba Adizero (2014).
Messi MiRosar10.1
As you probably already know, Messi is from the city of Rosario, where the beautiful Paraná River flows and where the Argentine flag was first raised. The Adidas Messi Mirosar10.1 boots, whose name stands for “My Rosario”, were launched in honor of his hometown in 2014.
They feature orange as the primary color, representing his first local club, and green as the secondary color, symbolizing the colors of his first rival — against whom Leo scored four goals in his first official match. As if that weren't enough, the boots also include an aerial map of Rosario on the insole. Quite a tribute, right?
Source: marcadegol.com
Messi Pibe de Barr10.1
“Pibe de barrio” is a very Argentinian way to say “neighborhood boy”. The expression is used to describe a humble lifestyle, rooted in the urban community culture of the neighborhood where one is from. Messi grew up as a typical Argentinian “pibe de barrio” and that was what Ignacio Valentini, this boot designer — who, by the way, is also from Rosario — wanted to capture with the Messi Pibe de Barr10.1 model.
Adidas launched these shoes in 2015. Ignacio Valentini told the press that Messi, as soon as he saw them, approved them. There was definitely a local spirit captured there.
Messi 15.1
In 2015, Messi’s influence was unmistakable in the design of his boots. The Messi 15 model debuted just before the 2015 Copa América in Chile, where Messi was awarded Best Player despite Argentina finishing as runners-up. That same year marked Messi's fifth Ballon d’Or win, motivating Adidas to release a special "Platinum" edition of the Messi 15.
Messi 16.1
There was a big upgrade from the Adidas Messi 15.1 to the Adidas Messi 16.1. This upgrade was not just on the looks. The Adidas Messi 16.1 features an Agilityknit upper that allows you to put the boots on much faster. What’s more, they mold to your foot in a way that gives you a much more stable feel.
Adidas Nemezis
Leo wore Adidas Nemezis models from 2017 to 2021. All variants feature a highly flexible structure that allows quick movements and direction changes without restrictions. To name just a few of his achievements during these years while wearing Adidas Nemeziz, Messi won his sixth Ballon d'Or in 2019 and “La Liga” two times with Barcelona (2018 and 2019).
Messi's been using some pretty stunning versions of this model over the years! We're talking the Adidas Nemeziz 17.1 (2017), Adidas Nemeziz 18.1 (2018), Adidas Nemeziz 19.1 (2019), Adidas Nemeziz Messi.1 (2020-2021). Unfortunately, you can't purchase any of these as collectibles.
Messi X Speedflow
2021 and 2022 were Messi’s “X Speedflow years”. Messi wore many different types of these Adidas X Speedflow boots (take a breath): Messi X Speedflow.1, Messi X Speedflow Meteorite, Messi X Speedflow Unparalleled, Messi X Speedflow WhiteSpark, Messi X Speedflow Sapphire Edge, Messi X Speedflow Mi Historia, Messi X Speedflow Diamond Edge, and Messi X Speedflow Game Data. Phew.
Let’s talk a little bit about the Messi X Speedflow Mi Historia boots. This model features a color palette of black and yellow that reminds us of the 2014 Azidero boot. The upper part is covered with a text-based graphic, akin to the Adizero IV, too. The words inscribed include “Team, Equipo, Respeto, Balon, Estilo, Nosotros, Jugamos, La Masia, Familia, Aficion”, that stand for “Team, Equipment, Respect, Ball, Style, Us, Let’s play, La Masia (Barcelona’s famous academy), Family, Hobby.” These words say a lot about Leo’s career.
Messi X Speedportal
Last but not least, with the Adidas Messi X Speedportal, Leo finally won the FIFA World Cup playing in the Argentinian team in 2023 against France. Quite possibly, the most enthralling final match for any sport. Of all time. These are pretty widespread at retail stores. Sadly, you cannot buy these shoes as collectibles either.
Join The Planet signed collectible boot by Leo Messi
While you can't collect the boots that were in contact with Lionel Messi’s toes, there’s something as valuable that you actually can purchase: a boot made from recycled materials with the mission of cleaning the seas and rivers — including the Paraná River, which saw Messi grew up — signed by Leo himself. This is the Join The Planet collectible boot, signed by Leo Messi.
It comes with the presentation a collectible deserves. Called the Genesis Edition, this boot ships inserted in a glorifier. It comes with a digital certificate of authenticity based on Blockchain technology.
What are you waiting for?
You can buy this unique collectible boot at the Join The Planet’s website and join Messi’s initiative to make a positive change in the world by using recyclable plastics, fishing nets, and other materials that shouldn’t be in our seas and rivers.
What’s more, with your purchase, you’ll get a code to access an exclusive digital experience where you can obtain your blockchain-based digital certificate of authenticity. Join Messi while joining the Planet and get a unique collectible, all at the same time.
Buy the Join The Planet signed collectible boot by Leo Messi now.