Made by French artist Pierre Navarro, who has designed footwear for Antoine Griezmann, Didier Drogba and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the boots have been created in partnership with new Electronic Arts title Anthem
THIS weekend, footballers including Erik Lamela, Kasper Schmeichel and Felipe Anderson will be wearing specially designed boots.
Fashionista Jesse Lingard will also get in on the act when he returns from injury.
Made by French artist Pierre Navarro, the footwear is inspired by the release of EA's latest title Anthem.
Navarro, 41, customises boots by painting designs on them and by adding expensive Swarovski crystals - all handmade in his La Rochelle studio.
The boots will feature the colours and style of the Storm, Interceptor, Ranger and Colossus Javelin suits that are available in the role-playing game and give the user superhuman attributes.
Each player has been matched to suits that reflect their own skills on the pitch.
Navarro, speaking around the launch of EA’s latest title, Anthem, said: "I'm delighted to have the opportunity to work with EA on Anthem.
"It was a pleasure to adapt their designs to the boots of Jesse Lingard, Kasper Schmeichel, Erik Lamela and Felipe Anderson.
"I can't wait to see them worn on the pitch."
Navarro began working with footballers 12-years ago after quitting his day job at Footlocker to start his own business.
His first client was Didier Drogba, and his outrageous designs have appeared in the 2018 World Cup Final and the Madrid derby on Antoine Griezmann.
While flamboyant Arsenal star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has had everything from boots to trainers to Batman baseball caps customised by Navarro.
"In 2007 I made my first pair of shoes for Didier.
"He wanted to tell the Ivorian people to stop the civil war, and they had a message on them that was very important for him.
"Didier was very happy with the work, and he put me in contact with many other players. It's because of him I work with footballers today.
"Sometimes the client has got an idea of what they want, so it's really simple and you just have to make it.
"Sometimes it's not exactly like that, or they want to do something and they are not sure of the idea, so I do some drawings before to make sure the final cut works for them.
"Once we are fine with every detail, then I make the shoe."
Navarro, who admitted he isn't a football and doesn't have a "fan attitude" towards his customers, revealed it can take as long as three weeks to make some of the intricate designs.
"They could be done in a matter of hours, or it could take as long as three weeks to complete the process," he said.
"I don't just paint, I have to add Swarovski crystals on some boots. It takes more time to fully crystallise a pair of boots."
Gabon international Aubameyang is a cherished client for Navarro because he loves the risks the former Saint Etienne and Borussia Dortmund striker is willing to take.
Navarro revealed: "I think the most remarkable shoes I've made for Pierre-Emerick were the fully crystallised boots for both Saint Etienne and Gabon.
"I've also done various T-shirts and trainers for him linked to Dragonball and Batman.
"What I really like with Pierre-Emerick is he always comes to me with new ideas and incredible things to create. For me I live for that kind challenge. We live in an individual world today.
"Everyone wants to have things that are unique from fashion to home interiors.
"So when you are a player, and you're playing in front of millions of people, you want to be different.
"People like these kind of things because it's a one of a kind, it's unique, different and totally new. That's what footballers are looking for."
But, at first, companies like Nike were opposed to Navarro's designs.
That was until Aubameyang stood up for the designer, the artist told us.
He said: "At first, sports companies didn't think it was a good thing to see unique boots on players. They believed it was difficult for them to manage that.
When Pierre-Emerick wore his crystallised Saint Etienne boots, Nike came to him and told him he wasn't allowed to do that.
"But he said he didn't care what they were saying, he loved the boots, wanted to wear them and wanted to be different.
"He believed that if Nike wasn't able to do that for him, then he could ask me to do it for him. And if they are not pleased by that, probably Adidas or Puma would like it.'
"It was great for him to put some pressure on Nike to have his own personalised shoes and I really appreciated that he defended me and my art.
"Today, it's not the same anymore. Brands like Nike, Adidas and Puma understand it's totally positive for them.
"Most of the time, when I do it for professional players, it gives the brand extra visibility, not only on the pitch, but in the media and on the internet.
"I think that's probably the reason why I now work with brands like Adidas and Puma."
Griezmann recently showed his love for Atletico Madrid in the Madrid derby, in what was a conscious effort to please fans and his club.
"The most important thing for Griezman was to give a message on his shoes," Navarro revealed.
"The last derby against Real Madrid he wanted to have a boot that was really linked with his club, Atletico.
"I was able to get into that project with Puma, and it was something really important to him.
"He loves his club and he wanted them and the fans to know that. For him, he's got Atletico Madrid in his heart and that was how he could show it."
Depending on the work Navarro does on the boot, his customised efforts can cost anything from £435 to £4,250.
And he's still getting used to seeing his boots worn by the world's top talents.
"When you have your boots on show, like in the World Cup Final, it's really quite strange," he revealed.
"I'm obviously quite proud of it, but it's also very stressful. For me, what is important is not only the design but the technical side of it.
"I want to make sure the boots will last for more than one game. I want the player to be comfortable with it and able to do what he wants wearing them.
"And when they score... that's a great feeling."
Pierre Navarro was speaking around the launch of EA’s latest title, Anthem. Anthem is out now on Playstation 4, Xbox One and PC. To get your copy, head to
