Soccer Game Changers #3
All hail: The Puma King
Worn by some of the greatest players to grace the game, the Puma King is fully deserving of its regal title.
Although debuted by Portuguese legend Eusebio at the 1966 World Cup — where he would be named ‘player of the tournament’ — the boot was made infamous by Pele at the 1970 Finals. During one match he took the (alleged $120,000 inspired) decision to ask the referee to halt play whilst he tied his shoe-laces, knowing full-well that the cameras would focus on him and his footwear. He went on to win the competition and was the stand-out player, thereby etching both his and the Puma King’s place in the history books.
This 1970 style adopted kangaroo leather for the upper, a first in the market, making them tough and lightweight, built for speed. They typically came in a simple black and white colourway — a gold trim around the motif would be added later.
The boot of choice for Johan Cruyff (player of the tournament at the 1974 World Cup) and Maradona (1986’s winner), its ubiquity amongst the footballing elite was due to their construction; the ‘vulcanization process’ was an innovative method of meshing soles to the uppers, resulting in a better fit. Also, Puma’s ‘S.P.A. technology’ gave the silhouette a higher heel, relieving strain on the Achilles tendon.
A staple throughout the 1960s, ‘70s, and ‘80s, they remain almost unchanged today, a timeless classic. The King now competes with fancier, brighter boots, yet there really is something majestic about its design and heritage, reaffirmed by the enviable roll-call of wearers.
