The First adidas Predator Release of 2026 Remembers Legends Who Wore the Boots

adidas Football has ushered in the new year with a special edition of its beloved Predator 26. Clad in a "Lucid Red/Core Black/Footwear White" color scheme, the first drop in 2026 nods to footballing legends that left their marks on "the beautiful game" while wearing Preds.

Dubbed "Unlocked," the limited take on the adidas Predator features ruby-colored flair across the top-half of its build, allowing most of the bottom-half to indulge in different shades of off white. The profile 3-Stripes see a contrasting black tone. Together, each hue creates a presentation that draws inspiration from football boots of the past.

NANOSTRIKE+, STRIKEFRAME, and POWERSPINE technology reprise their roles on the latest Predator 26. The "Unlocked" style's most emblematic detail, however, is the series of numbers printed throughout the design. Branding on the lateral side, medial profiles, and the sole plate underfoot all reference numerous numbers—including 5, 7, 8, 10, 22, 23; these figures represent six different players historically associated with the Predator series: Zinedine Zidane, Raúl, Steven Gerrard, Alessandro Del Piero, Kaká, and David Beckham. Unlocked messaging on the Fold-over Tongue's (FT) strap and insole rounds out the special edition.

The "Unlocked" Predator 26 arrives in a carrying case that denotes the project's limited nature.

Enjoy detailed shots of the first Predator football boots to drop in 2026. Keep an eye on adidas.com for a product restock. The pair is priced at $290. A version that omits nods to Zidane and others is expected soon.

For more news related to the beautiful game, check out the 2026 Mexico Fan Collection by adidas.