12 - 12/12/2016 : Boot Spotting : Soccer Bible

It's Monday, it's Boot Spotting. After a busy week of football as the winter break closes in, we look back on the past seven days of action and select our pick of the bunch from the past seven days. Make like Dele Alli and dive in below.

Andres Iniesta (Barcelona) Nike Magista Opus II

Andres Iniesta made his first La Liga start since returning from injury, taking to the field against Osasuna. The Barcelona skipper is still wearing the ‘Volt/Black/Total Orange’ launch colour way of the Nike Marista Opus II, personalised with the name of his daughter. It’s the same boot he’s worn since the start of the 16/17 season. No doubt Nike will want to get him into an updated colour way when Barcelona return from their winter break.

Michael Arroyo (Club America) Nike Neymar x Jordan Hypervenom Phinish II

This guy is a true Nike head. We’ve seen Michael Arroyo in a wealth of signature colorways and limited edition Nike releases this year. Most recently he’s been sporting the Neymar x Jordan Hypervenom Phinish II, training in one colour way and playing in another. He’s seen here wearing the ‘Black/Light Crimson/White/Metallic Silver’ launch colour way of the Neymar x Jordan collaborative boots.

Michael Arroyo (Club America) Nike Neymar x Jordan Hypervenom Phantom II

FIFA Club World Cup second round match between Jeonbuk Hyundai and FIFA Club World Cup second round match between Jeonbuk Hyundai and Club America at Suita City Football Stadium at Suita City Football Stadium Neymar x Jordan Hypervenom Phinish II. Las Aguilas came back from a goal down to beat the Korean side and set up a semifinal against Real Madrid.

Marco Borriello (Cagliari) Nike Mercurial Superfly V

Marco Borriello has been sporting his all black Nike Mercurial Superfly V boots for over a year now. The Cagliari striker has added some custom touches to his boots, which we presume began their life as an Academy Pack model, including a completely blacked out Swoosh and graphics on either side.

Keagan Dolly (Mamelodi Sundowns) Nike Mercurial Superfly V iD

Keagan Dolly is a Nike iD regular and his latest set of Swoosh customs are impossible to miss. The South African, who plays as a midfielder for Mamelodi Sundowns, was spotted sporting his new pink Mercurial Superfly V boots as his side took on Japanese team Kashima Antlers in their FIFA Club World Cup debut ― a game they lost 2-0.

Joffrey Cuffaut (Nancy) Nike Nike Mercurial Vapor IX CR7 Galaxy

Nancy’s Joffrey Cuffaut slipped back into his Nike Mercurial Vapor IX CR7 Galaxy boots for his sides Ligue 1 match against Angers SCO. The Frenchman is a Vapor regular, but mostly wears the Vapor XI. Switching things up though, the defender stepped out in Ronaldo’s signature classics that were released in October 2013.

Steven Beitashour (Toronto FC) adidas 11pro Crazylight

We’re going to assume that Steven Beitashour is the only professional player currently wearing the adidas 11pro Crazylight. The Toronto defender has been wearing the boots for the last two MLS seasons. The boots, which feature wild graphics and a lightweight upper, were first released in October 2014, and were a real WTF boot from adidas. To still be wearing them now, or to even wear them in the first place, is an odd one. They didn't make sense then, and they don't make sense now.

Justin Morrow (Toronto FC) Under Armour Speedform Leather

Justin Morrow is on the books at Under Amour and has sensibly settled in the Speedform Leather. The Toronto full-back wore the black colour way during the MLS Cup, having worn the white colour way in the Eastern Conference finals. An underrated boot that was first launched in July 2015.

Leonardo Castro (Mamelodi Sundowns) Puma evoSPEED SL Leather

These ones take it for us this week. Mamelodi Sundowns’s Leonardo Castro stepped out for the FIFA World Cup Quarter Final wearing the limited edition all-black Puma evoSPEED k-leather football boots. Completely black, from heel to toe, the boots were released earlier this year and understandably were a smash hit.

Grzegorz Krychowiak (PSG) adidas ACE 16 Primeknit

Polish international Grzegorz Krychowiak raised question marks over his future with PUMA after stepping out for PSG wearing the adidas ACE 16 Primeknit. The PUMA regular, who’s been with the German brand throughout his senior career up to this point, has been one of the main faces of the evoPOWER boot since their launch. Now though, he could be trading the Big Cat for the Three Stripes.

Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich) Nike Magista Obra II

Arturo Vidal has always been an anomaly amongst the Nike stable: a central midfielder wearing the Mercurial Superfly. Now though, after what we can imagine has been several attempts by Nike to force the switch, Vidal is a Magista player. The midfielder stepped out for Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga match against Wolfsburg wearing the ‘Dark Lightning’ colour way of the Magista Obra II.

Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) Nike Mercurial Vapor XI

Following Neymar’s switch to the Mercurial Vapor, it feels like Nike are moving towards re-establishing the silo as a stand-alone boot. If that’s the mission, a fresh injection of young players is a good place to start. Marcus Rashford traded Superfly for Vapor for the first time in his Manchester United career, coming on at Old Trafford wearing the ‘Dark Lightning’ colourway.