Nike Mercurial CR7 Veloce II FG Soccer Cleats - Black and Turquoise

For most Predator enthusiasts, this 1998 release stands amongst the top of the legendary range. It is the Adidas Predator Accelerator to be exact and I took the opportunity to pick up a pair a few weeks ago to feature in the Cleatology series. The Accelerator was the boot released by Adidas for the 1998 World Cup in France. At the time,?Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham were the lead players showcasing the boot. Zidane scored twice in the finale to help France win – although both goals came from his head.

My personal experience with these boots started out on a negative note, but thankfully it had nothing to do with actual performance. I wasn’t fortunate enough to be able to buy a pair when they were released, so instead I was left watching several teammates sporting them through their first season. Eventually, a pair found its way into my gear bag but it was closer to 2000 when the range had moved onto the Precision. The pictured version is the White/Black/Predator Red colorway – head down below if you want to see more in-depth images and details.

For those of you interested in finding a pair, eBay’s “Predator Accelerator“ listings is the place to look – although don’t expect to find any pairs for under $250!

When they were released, the one thing I do remember is how good they looked and how much I wanted a pair! When it came to performance, what a great boot they were and they really do still live up to the hype of being one of the best Adidas Predators released. The Predator Zone was composed of specifically positioned rubber panels through the forefoot that allowed for added power behind shots.

A slight negative was the floppy tongue and I’m not sure anyone ever really figured out what exactly to do with it. Wrapping and tying the laces over it was the best option, but the large tongue still had a tendency to fall out. On a final note, the pair pictured were not brand new when I purchased them. In fact, they had seen their fair share of use. But with a little TLC and some intricate detailing, they have been restored to “showcase” state, and by Showcase I mean these are already sitting on a shelf for viewing purposes only.

Where does the Accelerator sit on your top Predator list, and were you ever fortunate enough to own a pair? Share your stories below!