The old timers, the masters, the original gangsters, ever present since 1979. The biggest selling boot of all time. The Copa Mundial is one of the greatest boots ever, nuff said.
The Mundial has changed very little from 1979, so if you're after all the mod cons that the latest releases have in plenty, then flick past this review. But if you yearn nostalgia and your fashion taste buds are more suited to a slice of Beckenbauer than a sprinkling of Beckham, then this could be the boot for you.
A question I've been asked, is why do heritage models exist? Nike have the Premier II and Puma the King, but if all the new boots have so much new technology and none of the elite level players wear the heritage silos anymore, then why should you?
The answer is a strange one but ultimately makes sense. These boots are specifically marketed to us, the grassroots players. Elite level superstars are often contracted to boot manufacturers, so have to showcase the latest boots. Naturally the Predator, Phantom, Mercurial and Ultra will be splashed all over magazines and TV. It's all marketing. The fact that the Copa Mundial is the best selling boot of all time, shows how popular it is to the masses.
Note: The Copa Mundials, Premier IIs and Puma Kings are what I call heritage boots. Unlike the modern silos like the Predator, Mercurial, they aren't released every year or so, their stock isn't artificially pegged (call me cynical). This means these boots will always be in stock, and the big manufacturers restock them regularly. It annoys me that nearer the year end cycle of a modern boot, it's impossible to find size 10s of the Mercurial or Predator. You can't always afford to wait it out for the prices to drop and I'm not a big fan of the market when it comes to this, I'm so sure that inside forces are at play here.
The Copa Mundial back in the 80s were top tier boots worn by the best, but times move on. As newer lighter materials came to the fore, the boot industry started to move on from leather, the weight was heavy in dry conditions, and even worse in the wet and synthetic elements gave designers an open canvas to try their new ideas on.
For us humble 5-a-siders, leather is built to last. It's not unrealistic for leather boots to last longer than 15 years plus. For the casual gamer, this cleat probably comes in as one of best value for money. The price is generally stabilised at £120 and are always in stock from Adidas and other big retailers. This might sound high, but you're paying for durability, there's no point getting a pair of £50 boots and replacing it every 1-2 years.
The other big feature which fanboys get all excited about, is the kangaroo leather. The soft buttery k-leather, I think I've stroked my pair for more than a minute before suddenly waking from my dream all flustered and sweaty.
We talk a lot in our boot room reviews about leather. We big it up, but we also need to start asking questions about the morality. we must start applauding the boot makers for looking for alternatives and start thinking about our own choices. tough decisions will need to be made....but easy ones aren't always the right ones. so we'll be investigating this more and looking into our options for the future.
The leather is a natural material, so it feels very comfortable straight out of the box. What's more, is that they improve with age. Like a fine wine. The leather starts to stretch and then mould to the shape of your foot. It's something that requires patience, youngsters today aren't as willing, when they think they need results straight away. A sad sign of the times in general.
FIT: Size down by 1 - 0.5. Yep, I sized down a half and they still feel roomy, so I could of probably gone down a whole digit. But my 9.5s are great, fit is hugely important but I'm also wary of the physical look of a boot too. Like some boots seem narrow and long, a bit clown like, even if they fit perfect, so that would affect my decisions too. I mentally feel my Mundials are too small.
The key thing to remember is how much you are willing to sacrifice when it comes to comfort. I put a high value upon straight out of the box comfortability. The moment I slipped the Mundials and Tiempos on, I just knew they were matches made in heaven. For me it's physical and mental. The physical comfort, puts my mind at ease, it makes me more confident. Out on the pitch, it means that I can focus on the game 100%, as I don't have any pain that gets in the way. Most newer boots require wearing in, and even then, they never quite feel perfect.
Everyone wants to look like fire on the pitch too, when you try a boot out, you kinda just know whether you love it or not. It happens very rarely, but first impressions count, and they add to your confidence level, ergo you play better.
The final point I'll make is the stud configuration. Officially they are FG boots, but the studs are conical, so they give you good enough grip but the traction isn't as aggressive as modern FG boots on grass, but that make them good for AG surfaces. When it comes to value for money, these boots are the closest you will get to a true FG/AG variant too, so if your 50% of your time on grass and the remainder on AG, these deliver on both counts.
Many footballers will bring up that they can't compete with modern boots. These reviews ultimately compare boots...but we never lose sight of the fact that different people look for different things. We're not in the business of converting people, these are just honest spoken words. The Mundial give people a choice. I'm all for that, as the market veers towards synthetic exclusivity the Mundial, Premier II and Puma King, are all leather.....and offer an alternative.....at the same time, it'd be nice to find an alternative to leather. Something comparable, but not from an animal.
In concluding, if you want a boot, that's comfortable straight out of the box, represents value for money in the long term and not much else, then you should seriously consider the Adidas Copa Mundial, millions would agree with you. The extra weight, the flappy tongue, and extra long laces just don't detract enough in real terms to not consider these boots one of the greatest.
Price: £130
Fit: Go 1 size down
Tech: Kangaroo leather upper, durable.
Comfort: Cushioned, moderate lockdown, leather fits close to foot but will expand, tongue can be
flappy and a nuisance but you can tie them down.
Look: Traditional, romantic, the perfect black boot
Comments