The aesthetic evolution of shin guards

The trend is already well known. Shin guards are becoming smaller and smaller, almost tiny. The natural question arising from this trend is whether it is really necessary for football players to wear such small shin guards. In fact, they fail in their main purpose, which is to increase safety by reducing the risk of potential leg injuries. Wouldn't it be better or more appropriate if they played without them? The answer is no. Football players must wear shin guards and cannot take the field without them. We are talking about a mandatory piece of equipment as per the rules, judged to be on the same level as playing shirts and football boots. This is all outlined in section 4.2 of the IFAB regulations: "A player's mandatory equipment includes shin guards, which must be made of appropriate material and of a suitable size to provide adequate protection, and must be covered by socks. Players are responsible for the size and suitability of their shin guards." One may question the suitability of these tiny shin guards, but if the legislator does not intervene, then footballers are in compliance with the rules, even when wearing shin guards as small as a credit card.

The Beginnings

Shin guards have always been part of football history, even though as recently as 30 years ago, there were still footballers on the field wearing socks lowered to their ankles without any protection. The introduction of mandatory shin guards, dating back to the 1990s, created a market that in turn led to a race for technological evolution. Initially, shin guards were mainly made of hard plastic and were fixed with an elastic band, sometimes also using two strips of Velcro. The first products also included an ankle guard at the bottom, so that the movement of putting on the shin guards was similar to that of wearing socks. They were certainly important for the players' safety but at the same time very bulky and, consequently, uncomfortable. The 1990s were a period of experimentation, and all the big sports brands, such as adidas and PUMA, invested in the sector. However, the dominant player was the German company Uhlsport, thanks to an early version of flexible shin guards that, using an asymmetric and anatomical shape, adapted to the player's leg without creating significant obstacles.

The Evolution

The next step was, therefore, to make the shin guards lighter and more shaped according to the players' needs. This led to the appearance of shin guards that stayed firmly in place thanks to the pressure exerted by the socks and the use of a thin layer of foam adhesive tape. The new generation of shin guards also innovated in materials, using carbon fiber and kevlar. Additional details, such as small ventilation systems, were added to keep the legs ventilated and avoid excessive sweating problems. A new market emerged where big brands remained but without fiercely defending their positions. This allowed space for other companies, such as Soccerment, the Italian company that created the Xseed Pro model, a shin guard equipped with a technology (used by Federico Dimarco) that tracks and improves technical, athletic, and tactical performance. Regarding mini shin guards, one of the companies emerging as a sector leader is FLAIR with their carbon fiber shin guards, used by Florian Wirtz and Joshua Zirkzee, two players who are among the leading exponents of the Low Sock Trait aesthetic trend.

When Shin Guards Become Part of the Players' Aesthetics

We are talking about aesthetics. While the first wave of shrinking shin guards led to products that were smaller but still more elegant in shape, the current product lacks character. In many cases, we are talking about an object the size of a soap bar. At this moment in time, shin guards are not cool, they resemble an accessory that players wear reluctantly and would gladly do without. Furthermore, the aesthetics of shin guards are currently limited to players having family photos or important career moments printed on them. It is not rare to encounter a player kissing their shin guards before wearing them. The only aspect that makes them interesting is the way they are worn by players, but this is actually a consequence of the way players wear their socks. Francesco Totti was the first to revive the image of the player with lowered socks. Today, the icon of this trend is undoubtedly Jack Grealish, but behind him, there is a large group of players, including Pedri, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who, for necessity or style, have decided to bring back the image of the player with lowered socks from the 1960s, made famous by George Best and Gigi Meroni.

A Comeback with Total90?

This is why there is interest in how Nike will work in this sector once the Total90 imagery hits the market on March 2025. The original line of the collection also included shin guards. The products of the time partly resembled the designs of that period, with large shin guards that were probably uncomfortable for players. What made them unique were the colors and designs, paired with the iconic Total90 logo—accessories that looked like ultratechnological lab products. A must-have piece, to wear regardless of functionality and comfort, simply because it was fashionable. So, keep an eye on Swoosh's next moves: by combining the hype generated by the return of Total90 and the popularity of stars like Vinicius and Erling Haaland, shin guards could become cool again. Or perhaps it is more likely that these products will be seen on players in positions more prone to tackles, such as midfielders and defenders?