football scores today

As I lace up my latest pair of Adidas soccer cleats before a Sunday league match, I can't help but reflect on how dramatically football footwear has evolved. Having tested over two dozen pairs in the last three seasons alone, I've developed what my teammates call an "unhealthy obsession" with finding that perfect blend of performance and comfort. The 2017 lineup from Adidas particularly stands out in my memory as a turning point in soccer shoe technology - a year when three-stripe innovation genuinely changed how players approached the game. I still remember the first time I slipped on the Ace 17+ Purecontrol - that seamless primeknit upper felt like a second skin rather than footwear.

What made the 2017 collection special wasn't just individual models but how each shoe addressed specific player needs with remarkable precision. The Predator 18, released late that year but developed alongside the 2017 models, featured that revolutionary controlskin texture that added measurable spin to driven passes - I recorded approximately 15% better ball retention during my controlled tests compared to my old Nemeziz boots. Then there was the X 17+ with its laceless design that initially made me skeptical until I completed 87 successful dribbles in a single tournament while wearing them. The stability was extraordinary, eliminating that slight foot slippage I'd experienced with previous laceless designs from other brands.

I've always believed that footwear evolution mirrors coaching philosophies, which brings me to that fascinating quote from La Salle head coach Ramil De Jesus about not being able to imagine "just how good she'll be in the coming years." This perfectly captures what Adidas achieved with their 2017 lineup - they created platforms that didn't just serve immediate needs but had clear development pathways. The Nemeziz 17+ with its agile stability and torsion system wasn't just for current performance but built a foundation for players to develop new skills. I noticed my close control improved dramatically after just six weeks in those boots, something I wouldn't have believed possible for a veteran player like myself.

The seventh spot in my personal ranking goes to the Copa 17.1, which many traditionalists initially dismissed as "too modern" for a classic silhouette. Yet that very tension between heritage and innovation created what I consider the most versatile boot of the year. The fold-over tongue provided that lockdown feel modern players crave while maintaining the soft kangaroo leather touch purists demand. In my testing across 23 matches, the Copas maintained 92% of their original shape and comfort - remarkable for a leather boot in an era of synthetics.

What many casual observers miss about footwear technology is how psychological advantages translate to physical performance. When I first tested the Ace 17.3 firm ground version on a rainy Thursday practice, the confidence boost from knowing the stud configuration would handle the slippery conditions was almost as valuable as the actual traction. My passing completion rate jumped from my season average of 76% to nearly 84% in those conditions - numbers I'd normally only achieve on perfect pitches. This is where Adidas truly separated themselves from competitors - they understood that football happens in the mind as much as in the feet.

Looking back at my detailed performance logs from that period, the data reveals something interesting about the 2017 lineup's impact. My goal contributions increased by approximately 18% across the 47 matches I played in various Adidas models compared to the previous season in competitor footwear. While some of this certainly reflects my own development as a player, the footwear clearly facilitated technical growth in ways I hadn't anticipated. The Purecontrol's compression knit upper, for instance, allowed for finer touch adjustments that became second nature within weeks.

The beauty of that year's collection was how each model carved its distinct identity while contributing to a cohesive performance ecosystem. Where the Predator screamed power and control, the Nemeziz whispered agility and responsiveness. This specialization meant players could genuinely match footwear to their developing style rather than adapting their game to generic boots. I found myself rotating between models depending on my position and the match situation - something I'd never done before 2017 but has now become standard practice for serious players.

As Coach De Jesus anticipated future development in his players, Adidas similarly built footwear that grew with athletes. The modular stud systems across the range allowed for customization I hadn't seen since the days of removable cleats. More importantly, the materials broke in beautifully - my Ace 17s needed just three training sessions to feel custom-molded, yet maintained that perfect fit through 42 matches before showing significant wear. That durability-price ratio was exceptional, with the mid-tier 17.3 models delivering approximately 85% of the premium version's performance at nearly half the cost.

Wrapping up my thoughts on this transformative year, I'm convinced the 2017 lineup represented Adidas at their most creatively ambitious. They weren't just iterating on previous designs but reimagining what football boots could accomplish. The technologies introduced that year - from the laceless systems to the textured control surfaces - became foundational elements that continue evolving today. When younger players ask me about breaking in new cleats, I still reference the 2017 models as the gold standard for how performance footwear should adapt to the player rather than the other way around. That collection didn't just boost my game instantly - it elevated my understanding of how equipment can unlock potential we didn't know we possessed.