Written by Soccer Garage
For more than 20 years, the adidas Copa Mundial soccer cleat has been the boot of choice for some of the world’s best players. The boot’s craftsmanship is top notch, made from kangaroo leather to create one of the softest boots on the pitch. The boot has remained largely the same, receiving only a color change in 2013 and a version with replaceable studs. It’s the incredible attention to detail that has made the Copa Mundial a boot that truly stands the test of time.
About the Copa
The Copa Mundial is manufactured in Scheinfeld, in Germany. The boot has supports built into the heel, which help improve stability and ultimately make it last longer. It is the best selling pair of adidas soccer cleats, a title that it’s held since 2001. The boot features no particular elements for ball control, but its comfort level provides a level of seamlessness rarely felt on the field.
The boot’s signature black and white style is widely recognized, receiving only one variant. The inverted palette of white on black featured “Copa Mundial” emblazoned in gold letters, instead of the standard silver.
A 25th anniversary of the cleat was released in 2007. This version of adidas soccer shoes came in a box that featured anniversary artwork, a keychain and a fine leather polish. Boxes were also packaged with the German national football team’s postcard from 1982, along with a cloth used to keep the cleats clean and shining.
How it Feels
Some people describe it like a cloud, others say it’s like wearing nothing at all. The boot is a bit slim, especially at the front of the foot, and it will take a longer than average time for it to break in. It’s recommended you wear them for a session by yourself to break them in, and stay diligent with oiling the leather to keep it well-maintained. Many describe the boot as nearly game ready out of the box, but once the leather conforms to your foot, the end result really does feel seamless.
Final Thoughts
The Copa Mundial’s style is very subtle when compared to boots like the Predator. Its simple color scheme has helped keep the look iconic. It’s one of the most recognizable boots in modern soccer, and it’s remained nearly unchanged for almost its entire production life. It’s not a boot meant for beginners, but anyone with soccer experience will find the Copa Mundial to be a nice step up to beginner sets. They will also last for several years with care.