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Adidas Copa Mundial – The Only Football Boot You’ll Ever Need

by Jordan Waller
1 November 2012 18 Comments

The classic, no-nonsense football boot. As worn by Beckenbauer, Tardelli, Maradona and erm... Matthew Upson.

Whether you’re treading the patchy ground of your local park or the hallowed turf of Wembley, there’s a good reason why this classic boot is still king after over 30 years.

In an age when football boot s look more like they’ve been sprung from the fantasy worlds of a sci-fi film rather than a sports shop it’s relatively easy to be phased by the futuristic and often garish toe warmers on display at your local Sports Direct. Each new cleat on the market promising to make you run faster, shoot better and probably even get you laid. The football boot market is overrun with snake oil salesmen gratuitously flashing their wares at ever two bit wannabe Lionel Messi.  If you’re able to look further than the usual foot spaceships on offer though and want the real deal, look no further than the Adidas Copa Mundial.

Released in 1979 in anticipation of the 1982 FIFA World Cup, the boot has gone on to become one of the most iconic and reliable items in football and is currently the best selling football boot in the entire world.

The boot has gone on to become one of the most iconic and reliable items in football…

My first pair were a hand-me-down from my Dad when I was 14 after I tore off the sole of my cheap Puma Kings with an ill-timed free-kick (I kicked the floor…) and I’ve never bought another boot since. Made of 100% Kangeroo leather the boot looks like exactly what it should look like, a football boot. It’s a beautiful no thrills, no airs and graces classic that could have easily been torn straight out of Roy of The Rovers. Their simplicity is key, evident in the fact that the design has managed to stick around for such a long time – they wear like they’ve already been worn in before you’ve even had a kickabout. Their soleplate is plain and straightforward with no thought for ergonomics, climate-control or any other rubbish that comes with a modern boot – giving them a durability that will exceed anything else on the market.

The Copa Mundial is a classic football boot that that has stood the test of time and fought off many competitors both on the pitch and the shop shelves. Gracing the feet of everyone at one point or another from Beckenbauer, Zidane, Maradona, Best and Dave down at the Frog and Duck– what further testimony could you ask for?

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image descriptionCOMMENTS

johnnystriker 12:27 pm, 19-Apr-2012

An Adidas Copa Mundial boot curling an Adidas Tango Espana 82 ball into the corner of the net from 25 yards = Football Heaven

Owen Blackhurst 12:36 pm, 19-Apr-2012

Just ordered a new pair. The Tango 82, great shout Johnny.

Gavin 1:15 pm, 19-Apr-2012

I had to buy a pair of football boots to play on the wembley pitch when I was invited to a few months ago. I brought these boots and they were worthy of their surroundings. A design icon indeed.

MacAsk 1:34 pm, 19-Apr-2012

Absolutely. The ONLY problem with Copa's is they get so comfortable with age that you can never decide when to ditch your old pair for a new pair.

stanbowles 3:06 pm, 19-Apr-2012

Puma kings piss on them.

Neil 5:19 pm, 19-Apr-2012

Which incarnation of puma kings though stan? A great boot they are but the fact the copas have remained unchanged for 30 years gives them the edge for me.

Tim 10:06 pm, 19-Apr-2012

Maradonna wore puma kings...

Tim 10:16 pm, 19-Apr-2012

But I agree copa mondials are legend. And as for curling a tango 82 into the net from 25 yards being footballing heaven you are indeed right sir http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1s4jyC_o-g&feature=youtube_gdata_player

The Bull 5:12 am, 20-Apr-2012

Once the Copa Mundial (and their muddy pitch equivalent, the World Cup) and the Mitre Delta 1000 (far better than the Tango) had been invented, there was no need for any further development in football equipment whatsoever. They could simply not be improved upon.

Hagi 6:55 pm, 20-Apr-2012

Could any of you fashion aficionados tell me if they go allright with Docker chinos?

Kieran 4:07 pm, 21-Apr-2012

Proper football wear. I have been on the hunt for a pair of football trainers for months and ever pair I see look like they want pollinating.The one pair I saw with potential were endorsed by Cristiano Ronaldo..instant fail!

Ron Campbell ex ref 5:34 pm, 22-Apr-2012

I wore the World Cup boots in the 1985 Final Hull v Wigan I wore them the week before in a match to break them in I didn't need to bother they were a superb boot and I wore them in every game the following season Including Test Matches in France That was my last season in the game and I can say they were the best boots I ever wore in my career !!

Devious Soul 5:42 pm, 22-Apr-2012

Tried numerous modern boots over the years, and always end up coming back to the orginal Puma Kings. The ultimate boot for the fatter of foot. World Cups and Mondial are far narrower

hannibal chew 9:52 pm, 22-Apr-2012

good article great boots,my best mate had a pair of blue leather world cups, rare as rocking horse shit, came with a free poster, a tango with all adidas boots surrounding it. iconic style from the masters....

Andy 11:08 am, 1-Nov-2012

Adidas Penarol. Had a pair in the 70's, they were fantastic. Best bit was I only paid a tenner for them as the lady in our local sport shop ran our team. They were so good I passed them on when they became too small and they carried on for 6 years!

two bob 2:15 am, 2-Nov-2012

Valsport Green Star. Excellent boots, and the only ones I ever found to be as good as the original Puma King Top.

Frank 1:46 pm, 2-Nov-2012

They are everything you say they are unless you have slightly wider than normal feet, then Nike Air Legend are better. Pretty sure Maradona wore Puma Kings?

Rick 4:04 pm, 22-Dec-2012

Actually Maradona did play in a pair before he was purchased by Puma to wear kings, most of the greats did at some point. They only swapped to Kings for eg. because of $$$. Whoever said Kings are wider needs to stop smoking the wacky stuff. There is no better shoe on the market for a wide foot than a Copa. Why? Because once broken in they will stretch to anyone's foot width, this is why people say they get more comfortable the older they get. They are the only boot on the market that will truly mould to the shape of your foot. The kangaroo leather is super soft, much softer than anything Puma made or currently makes. Sire Alex recommends these cleats to juniors for a reason and it's certainly not because he's paid too.

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