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PSG have a number of choices to consider as the best possible replacement for Kylian Mbappe, who could be on his way out in the summer.

How on earth do PSG replace Mbappe? The 24-year-old is one of the best players in the world, a completely unique footballer. There is no equivalent talent, or archetype of player. And if there was, he certainly wouldn't be for sale, no matter how deep PSG's pockets are.

But there are some elements of Mbappe to be found in a handful of players around Europe. If he does leave, the French club will need a top-class goalscorer, who is capable of working in new manager Luis Enrique's possession-heavy style. Their next striker will ideally be young, a player already among Europe's best but who can still be developed further. He should also, preferably, be French.

That narrows the list considerably but there are still a few options that meet some of the aforementioned criteria. This summer's market is an interesting one, there are a number of talented No.9s between the ages of 22-25 that are expected to be available, but all of them have price tags near €100 million (£86m/$110m), and their current clubs wouldn't necessarily be in any great rush to get rid of them.

Still, it is widely assumed that the departure of one could lead to a domino effect of sorts. And, ironically, PSG could start the firesale. The Parisians have reached an impasse with Mbappe, who looks likely to leave sometime in the next six weeks. With the player in open revolt against the club and its owner — and pre-season yet to start — a move in the near future makes sense.

And once he's gone, the pieces across Europe will likely shift. So, which striker will PSG likely buy to cope with Mbappe's departure? GOAL takes a look at their best options…

(C)Getty Images8Neymar

Should PSG be forced to part with Mbappe, it will be considered a massive failure in the transfer market if they do not bring in an outright goalscorer to step straight in. That said, if signing a replacement is proving a struggle, new boss Luis Enrique could tinker with his line-up and push Neymar to a more advanced role. That would perhaps take away some of the 31-year-old's creativity, but the Brazilian has never had difficulty finding the back of the net.

Indeed, if PSG are outbid for one of their top targets, and deem that the handful of other options on the market are too pricey, Neymar could comfortably score 20 goals in Ligue 1. It's worth noting, though, that the Brazilian may not be open to such a role — though the choice won't necessarily be his. Consider this one a last resort, then.

AdvertisementGetty7Romelu Lukaku

The Belgian's career seems to be up in the air at this point. Lukaku is still technically a Chelsea player, although that looks likely to end soon. Inter are reportedly interested in bringing him back to Milan, and the striker would seemingly be more than happy to carry out that move. Still, Chelsea have asked for more than the Champions League finalists have offered to date, rejecting a €30m (£26m/$33m) bid outright.

PSG are in need of a more natural striker, and they have shown some interest in Lukaku before – although they never made a proper offer for his services. This is admittedly an imperfect fit, Lukaku isn't as mobile as the other options PSG are reportedly prioritising, and his struggles in big games are concerning. But this is an expensive striker market. There are not often discounts in football for No.9s that can be counted on for 15 goals plus per season. And while it's laughable that Chelsea's €40m (£47/$50m) asking price is considered cut-rate these days, this one makes sense – if only on a short-term basis.

Getty6Harry Kane

Tottenham do not want to sell Kane – that much is clear. But the England captain is yet to indicate that he will pen a new contract to extend his stay at the club beyond the 2023-24 season. The two parties are at an impasse, then. It makes no sense to let their best player – and most valuable asset – leave for free. But Kane is a game-changing talent, and Spurs' best opportunity to ensure they stay in contention for European football next season.

Bayern Munich remain keen but, having lodged two bids for the striker which were far off the London club's valuation of the player, there might be an opportunity here for PSG. Indeed, Spurs will not sell Kane to a Premier League rival and while it remains to be seen if they're going to be as picky when it comes to sides in Europe, the competition shouldn't be vast. Real Madrid want, and will likely get, Mbappe. Barcelona do not need another striker. Borussia Dortmund can't afford him, and it's difficult to see an Italian club making a serious push.

PSG need a striker, ideally a creative one who can bang in the goals, and they've got the money to get it done. Kane would well be their man.

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Getty5Rasmus Hojlund

This one would likely break Manchester United hearts. The Red Devils are reportedly interested in a deal for the Denmark international, although they could find themselves priced out – especially if PSG are willing to pay Atalanta's supposed €100 million (£85m/$110m) valuation of the striker.

And there's a tactical fit here, too. Hojlund is strong and quick, while his finishing continues to improve. His nine Serie A goals don't stand out but the Danish international didn't exactly benefit from regular service. With more chances coming his way, he will score more goals. And with the likes of Neymar and Marco Asensio to feed him, those goalscoring opportunities should come in bunches.

His relative inexperience is perhaps of concern – Hojlund won't turn 21 until February 2024. Still, this is a signing for the present and future, with Hojlund potentially developing into a top European striker someday. That's worth taking a chance on.

The league's two top goal-scorers feature in Goal's best XI for the 2020-21 campaign, which saw Chelsea retain their title

Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal dominate Goal's Women's Super League team of the season after once again locking out the top three spots in the league, all clinching Women's Champions League football for next season as a result.

The Blues clinched the title for a second successive year, their fourth title overall, while City came second for the fifth time in six years – the only exception being the 2016 season, when they won the division.

Manchester United, who topped the table at Christmas but just missed out on the European spots in the end, are the only other club represented in this XI, telling of the 15-point gap between the top four and the rest of the league.

GettyGK | Ellie Roebuck

Only Ann-Katrin Berger kept more clean sheets this campaign than Man City's Ellie Roebuck, the 21-year-old having another excellent year after also making Goal's 2019-20 team of the season.

That Golden Glove award would have likely been shared too, had Roebuck not missed the final day of the season through injury.

She has a strong defence in front of her to help, but a save percentage of 68% – the fourth highest of any goalkeeper playing more than 10 WSL games – shows the England international more than plays her part, too.

“The sky's the limit for Ellie," head coach Gareth Taylor said earlier this season. “She’s a great girl to work with, really mature for her age, enjoys the challenge and gets the bit between her teeth."

AdvertisementGettyRB | Ona Batlle

After signing from Levante in the summer, Ona Batlle has quickly endeared herself to Manchester United fans this season with performances that typify the modern day full-back.

As well as being an excellent attacking threat, playing at times in an inverted full-back role that sees her really get at teams in the final third, the Spaniard has shown just what a brilliant one-v-one defender she can be.

Despite playing for a team that are one of the strongest in the league, she is among the top five when it comes to tackles won this year. At 21 years old, she will only get better, too.

GettyCB | Magdalena Eriksson

To understand how good Magdalena Eriksson is, and how important she is to her team, one only has to look at how Chelsea have performed without her this season.

The Blues' captain is the leader of this title-winning side and whole team looks more assured when she is on the pitch, such is her status as one of the best centre-backs in Europe and, arguably, the best in the WSL.

That Emma Hayes touted her as a future Chelsea manager earlier this season tells you everything you need to know about her character and footballing intelligence.

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GettyCB | Alex Greenwood

When Alex Greenwood returned to the WSL in the summer, most expected her to renew a competition for places that she is familiar with when playing for England, battling with Demi Stokes for the starting left-back spot at City.

As the season transpired, Greenwood instead spent most of it as a centre-back – and she has thrived, having the best individual season of her career to date.

Her composure in possession has been essential for the way City play, while her set-piece deliveries have been problematic for every team in the league. Arsenal's Katie McCabe was the only defender to create more chances all season.

Christian Pulisic offered to go in goal for AC Milan after seeing Mike Maignan sent off versus Genoa, but that offer was snubbed as he is “too short”.

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Rossoneri saw regular No.1 dismissedHad used up all their substitutesFrench star favoured over AmericanWHAT HAPPENED?

The United States international forward stands at 5ft 10in tall, and that is not considered to be enough for a role between the sticks. That did not stop the USMNT star offering up his services when seeing Milan lose their goalkeeper to a red card while having no substitutions left up their sleeve.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

World Cup-winning France international Giroud took over the gloves instead – as he is 6ft 4in tall – with Milan boss Stefano Pioli explaining the thought process there to : “Pulisic wanted to go in goal but we told him he was too short, so Oli got picked to go in.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Giroud justified that show of faith when pulling off a brave late stop which preserved Milan’s narrow 1-0 lead. The 37-year-old told reporters afterwards, having pulled Maignan’s keeper top over his own No.9 jersey: “I’m taking this shirt home and framing it.”

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GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Pulisic netted the crucial goal for Milan at Genoa, with the American winger finding the target in the 87th minute, and another battling victory for the Rossoneri has them sat at the top of the Serie A table with 21 points taken from eight games so far.

Barely 24 hours after Yorkshire’s chairman Colin Graves announced his plans for world domination the Championship celebrations are not going awfully well

David Hopps at Headingley24-Sep-2014
ScorecardNick Compton’s hundred put Somerset in a strong position•Getty ImagesBarely 24 hours after Yorkshire’s chairman Colin Graves announced his plans for world domination – perhaps that is paraphrasing a bit, but you get the general idea – the Championship celebrations are not going awfully well. Rather than do the decent thing and surrender before Yorkshire’s might, Somerset have been stirred into one of their best displays of the season. They might even ensure the champions finish with a poke in the eye.Dominate English cricket for the next ten years was actually the target that Graves has given his coaching staff – and why not, as recently the impression is that their production line of England cricketers is substantially more impressive than the attempts made in certain other counties who Shall Remain Nameless.Nevertheless, Somerset played the role of party poopers with skill. With the Championship already secured, presumably Yorkshire intend to begin world domination next April. Over the first two days, their ambitions have faded and curled like the leaves that are already beginning to fall prematurely on the roads to Headingley.Such was the clatter of wickets around the country as the final round of the Championship season began with autumn officially upon us that Yorkshire’s below-par first innings went unremarked upon. Realisation dawned, however, as conditions eased further and, by the close of the second day, Somerset’s lead was 66 with seven second-innings wickets remaining.Yorkshire’s coach, Jason Gillespie, had sought to maintain his side’s focus ahead of this match by listing the statistical achievements that were still in their grasp, chief among them being the lure of a record points score in Division One if they made Somerset their ninth victims of an impressive season.But the statistics that flashed on the scoreboard 19 balls from the close of the second day were those of Nick Compton: 156 from 232 balls with 23 fours and a six. Around 16 months ago, Compton’s nine-Test career ended on this ground when he entered a strange, strokeless trance against New Zealand. England, fearing a disturbing effect on their captain Alastair Cook, and somewhat suspicious of his dressing room individuality, dropped him.The irony of his latest replacement being Sam Robson, who had even fewer shots, was apparent to some. Compton seethed, protested, responded and became demoralised, as much as he tried not to be. Until today, by his standards, he has had a pretty ordinary season. His Test career is over. But as he shared successive century stands with first Marcus Trescothick, who passed 66 in making 1,000 Championship runs for the season, and then Tom Abell, Headingley saw his more expansive range. On days like this he plays with true stature.Compton’s previous best score of the campaign was exactly 100 against Durham and his composure at the crease was such that it left one wondering why he has not achieved much more. Against the quicks, he stood as guardsman erect as if he was one of the Duke of Wellington’s ablest lieutenants. Yorkshire’s attack was committed enough, but as the sun bathed down upon north Leeds, the Headingley crowd had to pretend that they were perfectly content with the way their celebrations were going.Trescothick was assisted by a dropped chance at third slip by Joe Root when he was 28, and as his innings progressed he discovered, unusually, that Compton was bounding ahead of him. The shock eventually was too much and a gentle dab in Root’s first over fell to Lyth at slip. Root immediately withdrew himself from the attack.Root’s experience as a Yorkshire captain has explored the extremes. Middlesex murdered a supposedly safe declaration at Lord’s; Nottinghamshire capitulated as Root stood in for Andrew Gale at Trent Bridge for the victory that brought the title.As Abell, a product of Taunton, only 20 and with a few weeks of first-class cricket behind him, joined Compton in a stand of serene domination – 154 in 43 overs – and Yorkshire felt the end of the season upon them, Root must have feared a repeat of the former.They say Root will captain England, and they are probably right, but nobody can create miracles to order. Even when they said that about Mike Brearley, it was part miracle, part paper talk. Reclining patiently, beginning to twig that world domination was not going to plan, the cognoscenti faked that they were not overly concerned. If they thought “tek him off” as Yorkshire’s bowlers flagged in the final session, they never shouted it. That a touch of reality had crept in, however, could not be denied.

The BCB’s cricket operations chairman Naimur Rahman has said that the conditions put forward by the PCB over Pakistan’s possible tour of Bangladesh are “not realistic”, but is hopeful that the series will go ahead

Mohammad Isam24-Jan-2015The BCB’s cricket operations chairman Naimur Rahman has said that the conditions put forward by the PCB over Pakistan’s possible tour of Bangladesh are “not realistic”, but is hopeful that the series will go ahead. Though Naimur said that the demand placed on the BCB was unprecedented, he felt that the two boards might be able to find some middle ground.”I feel that you cannot go on a tour by giving conditions,” Naimur said. “It has to be done with mutual cooperation. I have never heard a country asking for a share of the tour revenue from their hosts. It is not realistic.”The PCB had demanded 50% of the revenue from the BCB, as well as an exchange of the Under-19s and A-team tours. The board said that unless Bangladesh agreed to their terms in writing, they would not give the BCB an assurance of the tour which consists of two Tests, three ODIs and a T20 between April 10 and May 7.”The BCB may or may not give them concession. Or there might be something down the middle. But I am hopeful that the Pakistan tour will take place. We have had discussions about it in the board meeting. We are also in discussion with the PCB, but no final decision has been taken.”The CEOs of the two boards are expected to meet on the sidelines of an ICC meeting in Dubai.

Yunus Musah is pleased to be “back on track” at AC Milan, after returning them to winning ways, but he is about to step aside in the Champions League.

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Rossoneri returned to winning waysWelcome success in Serie AEuropean action up nextWHAT HAPPENED?

The United States international continues to make an impressive contribution at San Siro during his debut campaign in Italian football. The versatile 20-year-old has settled quickly in new surroundings following his summer transfer from Valencia.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Musah was given another 84 minutes of Serie A action in Milan’s latest outing, and he helped them to a welcome 1-0 victory over Fiorentina. Theo Hernandez scored the only goal from the penalty spot, but USMNT stars Musah and Christian Pulisic played their part in the collection of three hard-earned points.

WHAT MUSAH SAID

Milan had gone four games without success in the Italian top flight, but are now up to third in the table and hoping to build momentum again after an unfortunate dip that led to uncomfortable questions being asked of title-winning coach Stefano Pioli. Musah has defiantly said on social media: “Back on track.”

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WHAT NEXT FOR MUSAH & AC MILAN?

Musah is, however, about to get off that track as he will not figure in Milan’s next fixture. The Rossoneri are due to play host to Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday. Musah will be forced to sit that game out as he must serve a ban for collecting three yellow cards in European competition this season.

The Blaugrana were keen on signing the England midfielder in his teenage years, but the experience of a close friend meant it never happened

In May 2023, pictures of an old scrapbook emerged. In the pages, printed in 2009, a young Jude Bellingham described his dream job: "A professional footballer for Barcelona and England."

Those comments, expressed by a child who had not yet reached his teens, were soon used as ammunition by Barcelona fans to declare, definitively, that Bellingham would sign for the Blaugrana that summer. They weren't the only fanbase to make lofty assumptions with little evidence, but their claim, based on the scribblings of a child, was among the more far-fetched.

Of course, things turned out differently. Bellingham signed for Real Madrid, and has quickly established himself as one of the best players in not just La Liga, but Europe. On Saturday, he will face off against Barca in his first taste of El Clasico, taking the field at the Olympic Stadium for Los Blancos in what could already prove to be a pivotal clash in the title race. It is the perfect contest for a rising star to show himself as being one of the world's best.

But those Barca fans who clung to old scrapbooks, it has since turned out, came closer than they might have thought to having their wishes come true. Although a host of clubs chased after Bellingham throughout his teens — Manchester City and Liverpool were also keen suitors — the Blaugrana had a real chance of landing him from Birmingham City before anyone outside of England's second city knew his name.

In 2019, in fact, Barca secured a meeting with Bellingham's father, Mark, only for him not to show up. The reasons why were only recently made public…

BarcelonaWhy did Barca fail?

This all starts with a different English teenager: Louie Barry. A Birmingham boy like Bellingham, Barry had impressed over a 10-year spell at the West Brom academy, and, before even making a first-team appearance, had fielded interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.

Barry eventually chose Barca, and became the first English player to ever walk through the doors of the famed La Masia academy. However, things didn't go to plan from the outset, and as a close friend of Bellingham's from their time in the England youth set-up, word of his struggles soon got back to the Midlands.

Just five months after the Barry penned his Barca contract, the Catalan club were due a meeting with Mark Bellingham in London. It did not go to plan.

"He didn't show up to the meeting," Bojan Krkic Sr., father of the former Barcelona attacker and a club scout for over a decade, told in 2022. "I know he did it to a lot of people. His excuse with us was that we had already signed an Englishman his age [Barry] from Aston Villa or West Bromwich, and he jokingly said: 'My son will not sign for Barca because he cannot play with someone of that limited quality'."

Bellingham did go on to leave Birmingham in the summer of 2020, joining Borussia Dortmund that July.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWhat happened to Barry at Barca?

And Bellingham's father was arguably right in his judgment of how Barry had been treated in Catalunya. The teenage forward never really found his footing at La Masia, despite reportedly impressing on the training pitches.

The problems started early on. West Brom believed they were owed £235,000 ($285,000) compensation for having their academy's brightest talent pinched. A cash-strapped Barca disputed that, and arguments over paperwork went on and on, all while Barry was unable to make his competitive debut for over two months.

Once he was cleared to play, Barry didn't get the opportunities many expected he would. The 16-year-old was thrown into Barca's Under-19 setup, and but constantly saw older, more experienced players get chances to play ahead of him. Sources close to the player told GOAL in 2021 that the player's different style saw him siphoned out of the team. His patience, quite appropriately, was wearing thin.

“Louie wasn’t happy with the time he was given, and justifiably so,” a source involved in the deal that took him to Camp Nou said. “He always played well and got some goals. His team-mates thought he was a great striker."

The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in spring 2020 saw Barca crowned U19 league champions early, but despite signing an initial three-year deal with the club, Barry had already left. Aston Villa, the club he had supported throughout his childhood, had made their interest known in January, and Barry jumped at the chance, leaving Spain without ever coming close to the senior team.

Getty ImagesDid Bellingham make the right choice?

Bellingham saw his career go another way. He signed for Dortmund around six months after Barry left Barca, and the move was met with a mixture of surprise and confusion from fans around Europe. Dortmund paid Birmingham a staggering €25m (£23m/$29m) for a 17-year-old with no top-flight experience, while his boyhood club famously retired his No. 22 shirt. It has since emerged that Bellingham turned down not only Barcelona, but also rebuffed serious interest from Manchester United to continue his footballing career in Germany.

And it seems he made the right decision. Bellingham wasn't an instant hit in Dortmund. Rather, he was given a chance to grow into the Bundesliga side, staying away from the spotlight of big clubs, and avoiding the inevitable scrutiny that would have come if he penned a deal with Barca or United.

But his quality was undeniable. After working his way into the team during the 2020-21 season, Bellingham started nearly every game in the next two, and a standout campaign last year almost drove Dortmund to an unlikely league title. He made Gareth Southgate's England squad for the pandemic-delayed Euro 2020, and was a crucial player for the Three Lions in the Qatar World Cup at the end of 2022.

He was always likely to leave last summer. Although Dortmund made repeated efforts to get the teenager to pen a new deal, Madrid came in with an offer that was simply too good to turn down — paying up after a long courting process. Going to Germany, then, was the best possible decision he could have made.

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Getty ImagesWould Bellingham have fit at Barca?

A Barca move might not have been catastrophic, though. After all, the Englishman is an immensely-talented midfielder who, even at 17, would've had a chance to break into the Blaugrana's first team.

Barca, at that time, were undergoing immense change as a football club, and bringing a handful of talented young players into the side. Bellingham would have broken through at the same time as Ansu Fati and Pedri, completing what could have been a deadly trio in the attacking third. Add that to the fact that a certain Lionel Messi was still floating around, and there is reason to believe that it could have worked out. Team success, it seems, could have been attainable.

But the cons certainly outweigh the pros here. To be a youngster in Catalunya is to live in Messi's shadow. The better the player, the more difficult it becomes to succeed, it seems. Fati, who was hailed as 'the next Messi' and ultimately given his No.10 shirt, has already burned out. Pedri was overused and now cannot stay fit for an extended period of time. Bellingham's legs needed to be protected — they still do now. Going to Barca could have thrown that all into jeopardy.

And then there would be the pressure of being a 17-year-old, unorthodox Englishman in Barcelona. Bellingham's technical quality is undeniable, but the midfielder is certainly not a player who would fit the classic La Masia mould. He's under an immense amount of scrutiny now, at Real Madrid, after proving he can be one of the best in the world. Things would simply have be much worse three or four years ago.

The Lionesses produced a resolute defensive display to see off Colombia and have all the tools to go on and win the tournament

England will face Women's World Cup co-hosts Australia in the semi-finals after Alessia Russo's strike fired them past Colombia and into the last four. The Lionesses initially fell behind in the game to a Leicy Santos cross-cum-shot, but Lauren Hemp levelled things up and Russo made the difference as the European champions progressed to the next round.

England settled into the game well and created a few early chances, both Rachel Daly and Russo having headers comfortably saved. It was Colombia who opened the scoring, though, with Santos' cross from the right catching out goalkeeper Mary Earps.

However, England would level before the break when Hemp pounced on some poor goalkeeping at the other end. It seemed that Colombia's Catalina Perez was going to comfortably gather a loose ball in the box but she spilled it and Hemp made sure to punish her mistake by tapping into an empty net.

The European champions carried that momentum into the second half and started well, marking that good spell with Russo's goal. It was a great pass from Georgia Stanway to put her in on goal and she applied a finish to match.

Colombia rallied and made it nervy towards the end but England held on and are back in a major tournament semi-final and what is sure to be a superb encounter with Australia in Sydney on Wednesday.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Stadium Australia…

Getty ImagesWINNER: The Russo and Hemp partnership

After working a treat against China, then not so much against Nigeria, the two-up-top partnership between Russo and Hemp thrived again in this match and was ultimately the reason that England went through.

Both players were excellent when they got on the ball, getting their heads down and driving forward to carry the Lionesses up the pitch and start attacks.

The chance to play with positional freedom appears to suit Hemp, usually a touchline-hugging winger, so well, while Russo's ability to get involved with the build-up play has a positive influence and there are not so many negatives about it when Hemp is then able to get in the box to be on the end of chances.

AdvertisementGettyLOSER: Ella Toone

With Lauren James suspended, Ella Toone came back into the team and it was a chance for her to show that quality that everyone knows she possesses.

Sadly for her, though, she struggled to get into the game, unable to create any chances for her team-mates on the night.

Toone worked hard, as always, but the things she tried in attack simply did not come off.

GettyWINNER: The back three

This could've been a bad tactical match-up for England. Colombia's wide players are electric and there was a lot of space for them in behind the Lionesses' wing-backs.

But beyond them, the back three was absolutely immense. Jess Carter had a couple of tricky moments against teenage phenom Linda Caicedo but was otherwise brilliant, winning four of her six tackles and regaining possession nine times.

Millie Bright chipped in with five clearances and four huge blocks, while winning three of her four aerial duels, and Alex Greenwood was classy as ever, coming up with a particularly big block at the end to deny substitute Ivonne Chacon a clear shot at goal.

Whenever Colombia looked to be in, one of the back three was there to stop them. They were fantastic.

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GettyLOSER: Keira Walsh

This wasn't a poor match from Keira Walsh but, once again, the question is whether or not this 3-5-2 system gets the best out of her.

The Barcelona star played a nice ball into the box that would lead to Hemp's equaliser, yet this was a rare flash of her excellent quality in possession and passing range.

Walsh is one of the best players in the world and her ability to be an effective deep-lying playmaker is a big part of that. If Wiegman can figure out a way to let her show as much in this system, it'd be a big boost to England's World Cup chances.

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A classic for good reason

If you're looking for a pair of soccer cleats but want something nostalgic and reliable, leather cleats are for you. There are tons of new options out there with the latest tech, but you just can't beat the old-fashioned look and the feel of a pair of leather cleats.

With hundreds on offer – including some that intertwine the modern features of cleats today with the classic leather cleat look – you can indulge in the best of modern tech and classic, durable leather.

Click here to skip ahead to our round-up of the best leather soccer cleats.

Our top three:

Best overall leather soccer cleats: adidas Copa Sense.2

Best budget leather soccer cleats: Nike Tiempo Legend 9 Club 

Best Firm Ground soccer cleats: adidas Copa Mundial 

FAQs:Are leather cleats better than synthetic ones?

It's hard to deny that leather cleats produce superior stability widely treasured by some of the game's leading players. Their leather uppers tend to be rigid in support and able to weather frequent usage. In contrast, their construction makes them heavier than the rest of their synthetic counterparts. Their well-honed construction, perfected over decades of cleat-making techniques, means that while some consider them old-fashioned, they stand the test of time.

What is the difference between leather cleats and others?

Several differences – some large, some subtle – exist between leather cleats and cleats designed from other materials. Studded soles, for example, are a non-starter for indoor courts. Leather cleats tend to be wrought with more obvious markings and may be marginally heavier than expected – but they will still deliver the same functionality and support found with other cleats, possibly even more so. 

How do I clean leather cleats?

Maintaining real leather or even sustainable, animal-free options, it's important to care for them properly in order to ensure that you increase their life, so you can enjoy them for longer. They also tend to be on the pricier side compared to synthetic cleats, so they're well worth maintaining on a regular basis. GOAL have put together an 8-step detailed step-by-step guide and the products you will need to make sure they stay in brilliant condition for a long time.

You won't get much better than the adidas' Copa Sense+ range which has been a staple silhouette for leather cleat options. They deliver superb comfort and ball control, balancing stability and softness for a top-drawer molded finish that takes the breath away.

Worn by the likes of Paulo Dybala, the soft leather upper delivers the quality material touch you'd demand. At the same time, TOUCHPODS on the medial side of each boot absorbs any extra impact energy off the ball.

For less than $50, these cleats from the Nike Tiempo range are a bargain and add a modern flair to the classic leather cleat look – with a new icy white and blue colorway from the Blast pack. The durable leather upper doesn't skip on quality either.

It also features a solid studded outsole for amazing traction on natural and artificial grass surfaces. These cleats are Nike's lightest Tiempo's to date with an offensive low profile, making it the perfect option for attackers.

The Copa Mundial, made famous on the stages of Spain in 1982, is still a superb leather cleat all these years later. The fact that it has stood the test of time is a testament to the quality infused throughout its design. The premium, soft K-leather upper boldly features adidas' iconic three stripes, while the signature tongue covers the top of the laces, and the inner is lined with nylon.

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For the indoor court, these brand-new Nike React Legend 9 Pros are an excellent option for leather cleats. They feature a refined leather upper that helps you with ball control while looking fantastic with an iridescent maroon colorway.

The upper also has soft foam pods to help you with dribbling and passing, while a subtle raised texture is excellent for grip. The React foam cushioning on the interior finishes it all off, giving you a snug fit and comfortability all game long.

The hosts have preferred to deploy players who were not regularly involved from the group stage to the knockout rounds

Cameroon coach Toni Conceicao has dropped Golden Boot prime candidates Karl Toko Ekambi and Vincent Aboubakar for the Africa Cup of Nations third-place game against Burkina Faso at Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde on Saturday.

Backpagepix.Goalkeeper: Andre Onana

Onana has been handed a chance to book another clean sheet in the tournament for the hosts.

AdvertisementRight-back – Olivier Mbaizo

The Philadelphia Union defender features in the starting XI replacing fan favourite Collins Fai.

Backpagepix.Centre-back – Jerome Onguene

Onguene has benefited from the changes made as he replaces Jean-Charles Castelletto.

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Backpagepix.Centre-back – Harold Moukoudi

Moukoudi will feature in place of Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui who played from the group stages all through to the semis.