Teasing the potential return of the F50 series, adidas have opened their extensive archives once again, this time to show off some of the most popular colourways for the iconic boot.
This year sees the 30th anniversary of the Predator, with adidas releasing the Predator 24 to widespread acclaim, bringing with it that nostalgia-laden fold-over tongue and throwback Accelerator aesthetic, combined with modern technology. And it looks like the Three Stripes aren’t done with their extensive archive this year, after they posted images of another of their iconic-but-retired boots in the F50, along with a very suggestive caption that read: “Something is loading. Time to bring some beauties from the past.”
After the Predator, the F50 is undoubtedly one of adidas’s most recognisable boots from the modern footballing era. It was the boot of choice of one Lionel Messi throughout what were arguably his most impactful years, including 2012, the calendar year in which he scored 91 goals in 69 games.
Debuting way back in 2004, ahead of the Euros that year, it was a focal point for adidas innovation, including the TUNIT system and Crazylight models, right up until it picked up its pension in 2015, replaced by the newer, younger and sexier X silo. But now it’s back to take its place alongside a more traditional Predator, with the ACE and X revolution feeling like nothing more than a weird dream.
Messi 2010- F50 adiZero TRX SG “Chameleon" & Messi 2012- F50 adiZero TRX FG "FIFA Ballond’Or”
David Villa 2010- F50 adiZero TRX FG
From its debut 20 years ago, the F50 went through some radical evolutions, right up to the last iteration, the 4th and final generation of the F50 adizero, which dropped in 2015. That final model directly fed into what the X franchise went on to become, so much so that in 2023, adidas transferred one of the most remarkable and signature technologies from the F50 on to it to give us the X Crazylight.
Müller 2011- F50 adiZero TRX FG
2010- F50 adiZero TRX SG
In fact, the X silo has evolved itself over the years, so much so that its arguably more recognisable as a descendent of the F50 line than of the first X 15.1. It therefore makes sense from a marketing perspective to switch back to the F50 title, leveraging that nostalgic appeal whilst also offering a current avenue into the lightweight speed silo market.
If the launch of the Predator 24 has told us anything, it's that there's a huge desire for a touch of nostalgia, but nostalgia done right; a nod to the past while looking to the future – so the return of the F50 is an exciting one.
2014- adidas Adizero F50 FIFA World Cup Battle Pack
Jordi Alba 2015- F50 adizero customised
Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold among many others have jumped at the opportunity to step back into the Predator franchise, picking up where the likes of Beckham, Zidane, Kaka and Del Piero left off. With players like Messi, Benzema, Schweinsteiger and Bale all having propelled the performance of the F50 in the past, who's ready to step up and pick up the baton for this new iteration of F50? And what looks would we like to see homaged?
Watch this space for more official news of the F50's return...