The combo of pants and football boots is about to make a comeback

In June 2024, Nike, through the SNKRS Showcase – a series of videos on the app of the same name previewing sneakers the brand plans to launch in the upcoming seasons – revealed a sneak peek of three colorways of the T90 III: Black/Metallic Silver, Dynamic Yellow/Green Spark, and Bordeaux/Metallic Silver. The release date, unless there are last-minute surprises, is set for the spring of 2025. Nike's intention is clear: since the T90 III is an outdated model to be reintroduced on the field with the same features as its debut in 2006, and likely too complex to reinterpret with futuristic materials and updated silhouettes, Nike has opted to release it exclusively in the version with synthetic rubber studs. This choice seems to be a clear invitation to incorporate them into everyday outfits, paired with a tracksuit, and why not, a baggy denim. Nike's timing for this release is perfect, as it aligns with a series of launches by brands like adidas and PUMA, who seem ready to ride the wave of a rapidly growing trend.

The influence of football has impacted not only clothing but also the footwear sector. Just a few months ago, Nike released a hybrid sneaker with the upper from the Tiempo (with a tongue cover) and the midsole from the TN, Jules Koundé wore a pair of adidas Copa Mundial at the latest Clairefontaine runway, and PUMA didn’t wait too long to re-issue the PUMA KING, both in the football and futsal versions. But ultimately, when searching for the first brand inspired by this imagery, Acne Studios deserves a mention. In 2022, within the FW23 collection, the Stockholm-based brand released a silhouette very similar to the Nike Air Zoom Total 90 II from 2002, staying true to the most recognizable feature: the side lacing towards the outside of the foot to promote a cleaner strike on the ball, introduced in football by Nike with this line and maintained in subsequent models like the Total 90 Supremacy, Total 90 Laser, and many others.

If the trend of futsal shoes paired with lifestyle outfits truly takes off, it would represent a real return to a style that was widely present in the 2000s: in 2006, with the release of the Total 90 III, there was a true revolution in fashion, especially among young boys aged 10 to 16. It was the summer of the World Cup in Germany, won by Italy, and Nike introduced the boot with a classic cinematic video commercials, through another legendary spot, Brasil vs Portugal, which would be the preview of the Joga Bonito series, whose star would become Ronaldinho with his crossbar challenge in his R10s. The hype surrounding the re-issue of the Total 90 III is fueled by the feeling of nostalgia that dominates the world of football, particularly in retro lifestyle collections, from which Nike has typically distanced itself (unlike adidas), but when it comes to footwear, it has opted for a break from the norm.

Even clothing brands are exerting their influence on the return of a style we thought was relegated to the depths of the 2000s. After all, if Corteiz and Palace Skateboards have gone as far as dissing each other over a tracksuit they both copied from Nike, it means that aesthetic is ready to make a comeback, putting the nostalgic feelings of those who were around 10 years old in 2006 to the test. Until now, footwear had taken a back seat, but 2025 is shaping up to be the year of futsal shoes – or "calcetto" boots, as we’d call them in Italy. 

If nostalgia has so far led us to wear, at most, an 80s jersey of our favorite team, we wouldn’t rule out the possibility that the Total 90s could bring back full outfits, turning us into cosplayers of our twelve-year-old selves, drawing inspiration from family album photos.