Phaidon is set to release one of the most exciting football culture books of the year. Nike Football Boots launches on 9 April, offering fans a richly illustrated deep-dive into the evolution of the world’s most iconic football boots — and the legendary players who made them unforgettable.
The book, created in close collaboration with Nike, traces the brand’s football journey from its first all-black leather boot of the early 1970s — the first shoe ever to feature the now-legendary Swoosh — to today’s modern innovations. Football fans can expect an in-depth look at four defining Nike boot families: Tiempo, Mercurial, Total 90, and Phantom.
A celebration of football’s greatest names
Nike Football Boots doesn’t just catalogue products — it celebrates the culture and players who shaped football history. Readers will find stories behind the boots worn by some of the biggest stars in the sport, including:
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Ronaldo Nazário
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Cristiano Ronaldo
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Megan Rapinoe
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Kylian Mbappé
Cultural commentary and design insight
Award-winning writer Caleb Azumah Nelson (author of Open Water) contributes four essays exploring the nostalgia of growing up a football fan in southeast London, delving into how culture, style, and youth identity shaped Nike’s visual language.
Fashion historian Thomas Turner (London College of Fashion) examines the materials, technology, and design principles behind the boots, while Eleanor Watson offers a global overview of football design. An afterword from Claudia Cándano de la Peza, Editor-in-Chief of ELLE Mexico, explores how athletes have become modern fashion icons.
Nearly 500 images from Nike’s archives
The book features almost 500 archival visuals, including close-ups, prototypes, concept sketches, advertising campaigns, on-pitch moments, and exclusive material from the Department of Nike Archives (DNA). A glossy 12-page insert showcases every Nike boot model released from 1971 to today, including the newest Tiempo.
The back cover features the Swoosh translated into more than ten languages, underscoring football’s global reach — while the front cover highlights some of Nike’s most famous and era-defining boots.
Perfect timing ahead of the 2026 World Cup
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaching, Nike Football Boots lands at the perfect moment for fans wanting to dive into the design, history, and mythology of the sport. As the world’s top players step onto the pitch next summer — many wearing the latest Nike gear — this book serves as the ideal companion to the world’s biggest sporting event.
For more on Nike, visit the official site at nike.com.
