Released date - 2004
20 years ago, in 2004 ahead of the EURO 2004 in Portugal, Nike released a new generation of the Nike Total 90 football boot - the Nike Air Zoom Total 90 III.
Since its launch in the spring of 2000, the Nike Air Zoom Total 90 Series has had enormous success. In 2004, the Total 90 III was added to the line up, helping to define a truly remarkable period in football history.
Vibrant Nike advertisements, showcasing the talents of Roberto Carlos and Luis Figo, demonstrate that the 90s were a time for the creative, the artist, and the player who made things happen. This model helped to evolve Nike's Total 90 range by delivering power and accuracy.
The idea behind the Air Zoom line was to create a boot that would provide optimal comfort for the full ninety minutes of play.
Nike needed to elevate the Total 90 concept since the professional game was getting faster and more demanding after four years of the project. Evidently, the Air Zoom Total 90 III was an impressive boot, as evidenced by its wearers, which included Rio Ferdinand, Francesco Totti, Roberto Carlos, Wayne Rooney, Luis Figo and more.
The Upper:
The most popular Nike synthetic upper from the late 90s and early 2000s, KNG-100, was soft and supple and extremely lightweight. This material was used to create the upper of the Nike Air Zoom Total 90 III football boots.
The new asymmetrical integrated lacing system further strengthened the superior comfort, fit, ball feel, and touch provided by the synthetic material.
Nike kept the side lacing design, the tongue vanished from the boot, and the iconic 90 logo was positioned directly in the centre of the instep, making this a hallmark of one of the greatest T90 designs.
The Sole Plate:
Nike updated the structural bars on the outsole and added a unique phylon to increase comfort and lessen stud pressure in the boot's strengthened heel.
The externally contoured heel counter in the boots, whose design mimics the natural form of the foot, provides exceptional stability during play while lowering the risk of Achilles injury. This adds poise and stability to the boots.
Additionally, the Heel Zoom Air unit enhances protection and comfort even more, boosting the wearer's confidence to compete for the full ninety minutes of play
The famed Intertract soleplate design, which is sometimes recognised as the greatest sole plate ever, was a characteristic of the preceding Air Zoom Total 90 II model. Nike modified it to a circular stud pattern with the Air Zoom Total 90 III.
The sole plate provided great traction and support, but wasn't the most lightweight design.
Notes and Comments:
Colours available: Blue, White, Red, Grey or Chrome.
Did you know that Lionel Messi made his debut in 2004 wearing the Nike Air Zoom T90 III? He wore them in a chrome/ cardinal colorway before going on to adidas.
The Nike Air Zoom Total 90 III football boots were renowned for comfort, strength, stability and responsiveness. They helped to firmly establish the range as a rival to the adidas Predator series, as Nike continued their development and creation of the total boot for the Total 90 minutes of play!
Did you have a pair and where do you think these boots lie in the hall of fame for nostalgic boots?
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