+18 | Play Responsibly | T&C's Apply | Commercial Content | Publishing Principles
Jude Bellingham Real Madrid 2023-24Getty

Creator-in-chief! Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham helps design new viral adidas Predator boots and brings back 'iconic' feature

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

  • Bellingham helped design Predator 24
  • Has worn adidas boots since 2020
  • Trent Alexander-Arnold debuted new range earlier this month
  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Bellingham has featured in the commercial promoting the new line of adidas predator boots, the 30th iteration of the model made famous by the likes of David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Steven Gerrard. In the two-minute clip, the midfielder is shown stealing the boots from a secret laboratory.

  • Advertisement
  • Trent Alexander Arnold Liverpool 2023-24Getty

    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Bellingham and Alexander-Arnold have been teasing the boots since the end of 2023, the Liverpool star debuting a limited edition of the model in November for his side's 1-1 draw with Manchester City. He has since signed a lucrative deal with adidas.

  • WHAT BELLINGHAM SAID

    Bellingham took to Instagram in December to talk about the boots after wearing them for the first time, and was full of praise after turning in a star performance, writing "what did you put in these?"

  • WHAT ADIDAS SAID

    Sam Handy of Adidas told the Sun: "We work very closely with an amazing group of pro players who are involved in the feedback from early testing prototypes and adjustments. We worked with Jude on this Predator and heard his first reactions when we got the boot in front of him. He has been a key part of our development of the boot from a performance perspective."

    The new boots also feature the return of the fold-over tongue, and Handy was happy to explain why.

    “In theory, the tongue is an archive detail but the feedback from so many players was, 'Please bring back the foldover tongue.' It's a super iconic detail," he esaid.

    “It works. It delivers ball control. Gen Z pro players are asking for the tongue for performance reasons and twinned with the nostalgia it was too hard to resist the temptation for Predator 24.

    “This is the best Predator ever built in 30 years - as you can tell by the number of players that have so quickly transitioned to it already."

  • GFX Jude Bellingham adidas predatorsGetty/GOAL

    WHAT NEXT FOR BELLINGHAM AND ADIDAS?

    Bellingham is set to be involved as Los Blancos take on Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey on Thursday. adidas' new boots, meanwhile, are officially available — and, given their heritage, will likely sell out fast.