Nike unveils first custom football boot for women's star Alexia Putellas
Nike Usher in a New Reign with Alexia Putellas
The U.S. sportswear and fashion giant has unveiled its first custom football boot design for a female player—Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas.
The collection features two football boot models, short-sleeve jerseys, and bags emblazoned with the Catalan star's personal logo, specially created for Nike. A crown formed by an A and the number 11—her squad number—nods to her nickname, "La Reina" (The Queen).
Putellas inherits the crown from American footballer Mia Hamm, whom Nike founder and chairman Phil Knight once ranked among the world's elite athletes, alongside Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. In 1997, the company named one of its corporate buildings after Hamm. A pioneer for women's sports, Hamm partnered with Nike throughout her career, and now the torch passes to Barcelona's captain.
Nike adds the two-time Ballon d'Or winner to its exclusive roster of athletes with personal logos. Among the most iconic is the Jumpman—basketball legend Michael Jordan's silhouette—which has often overshadowed Nike's own swoosh on the brand's apparel. Other names on the list include footballers Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, tennis stars Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, and golfer Tiger Woods.
Other players with custom boot designs include Norwegian striker Erling Haaland of Manchester City, whose personalized Phantom boots share the same line as Putellas'. Ada Hegerberg, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, and Neymar Jr. also have signature styles in the Mercurial Vapor collection.
Last October, the Oregon-based multinational reported its fiscal first-quarter results for 2025. In the period ending August 31, the Swoosh brand posted $11.72 billion in revenue, a 1% increase from the $11.59 billion recorded in the same quarter the previous year. Nike closed 2024 with a 10% sales decline, including a 12% drop in the fourth quarter.
