The stats show these boots dominated play at the European Championship.
As Euro 2024 fades into the rearview, Aisle 3, a trainer comparison site, has analyzed the boots that not only graced the pitch but dominated it.
Highest-scoring football boots: Nike Mercurial
The Nike Mercurial (buy now) reigned supreme, racking up a staggering 33 goals. However, considering these boots were worn by 167 players, the goals-per-boot ratio hovers at a modest 0.2. But the Mercurials proved clutch when it mattered most. Every goal in the final was scored by players – England’s Cole Palmer, Spain’s Nico Williams, and Spain’s hero Mikel Oyarzabal – donning the Mercurial.
Top contenders
The adidas F50 (buy now) also put in a stellar performance with 23 goals across 78 players, boasting a robust 0.29 goal-to-boot ratio. Similarly, the Nike Tiempo (buy now) punched above its weight, notching 10 goals from 34 players, also achieving that strong 0.29 ratio.
The left-footed advantage
Interestingly, left-footed players found a friend in the Nike Mercurial, netting 33 goals via 29 left-footed athletes. This trend suggests a particular synergy between the boot and left-footed sharp shooters.
Disciplinary insights
Not all stats favored Nike Mercurial – they topped the yellow card charts with 51 cautions. However, given their popularity, that may reflect a higher usage rate rather than a correlation with trouble on the pitch. Meanwhile, the Nike Phantom (buy now) and adidas Copa (buy now) were tied for most red cards, each contributing one to the tally.
Not just the big brands
One standout is Harry Kane’s choice of the Skechers SKX (buy now). Though worn by only one player, these football boots tallied an impressive 3 goals, showcasing that non-traditional brands can shine on Europe’s biggest stage.
Defenders’ choice of football boots
Puma Future (buy now) and Puma King (buy now) were worn predominantly by defensive players, and it shows in their low-scoring metrics. The Puma Future scored 4 goals from 49 pairs and Puma King just 1 goal from 12 pairs, reflecting their role on the field rather than their inefficacy.
Comprehensive analysis of the best football boots
This extensive campaign was crafted from verified match reports, player endorsements, and visual match analysis, yielding a data-driven portrait of boot performance in Euro 2024.
Here’s a detailed breakdown illustrating the goals, disciplinary records, and more among the top boot brands:
| Brand + style | Goals scored | Red cards | Yellow cards | Offsides | Number of football boots | Goals per boot | Left footed | Right footed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nike Mercurial | 33 | 0 | 51 | 73 | 167 | 0.20 | 29 | 138 |
| adidas F50 | 23 | 0 | 38 | 27 | 78 | 0.29 | 17 | 61 |
| Nike Tiempo | 10 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 34 | 0.29 | 4 | 30 |
| Nike Phantom | 9 | 1 | 25 | 7 | 61 | 0.15 | 11 | 50 |
| adidas Predator | 9 | 0 | 21 | 11 | 86 | 0.10 | 10 | 76 |
| Puma Ultra | 5 | 0 | 17 | 12 | 39 | 0.13 | 8 | 31 |
| adidas Copa | 5 | 1 | 17 | 3 | 38 | 0.13 | 8 | 30 |
| Puma Future | 4 | 0 | 13 | 8 | 49 | 0.08 | 11 | 38 |
| Skechers SKX | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3.00 | 0 | 1 |
