Lionel Messi's Match Worn, Record Breaking, Dual Signed Adidas F50 Adizero Football Boots - 2012/13, 91 Goal Year, 4th Ballon d'Or Winning Season

The Holy Grail of Football Memorabilia: Lionel Messi’s Match-Worn & Dual Signed 2012 Adidas F50 Adizero Leather Football Boots

In the rarified world of football memorabilia, few pieces can rival the historical significance, provenance, and sheer collectability of a match-worn and dual hand-signed pair of iconic F50 boots from Lionel Messi’s record-shattering 91 goal year of 2012-arguably the most iconic single calendar year ever produced by any footballer in history. A sacred relic from the greatest of all-time. These Adidas F50 Adizero Leather football boots aren’t just simply a pair of boots — they are living history, encapsulating a moment in time when the greatest player to ever grace the pitch reached levels of performance that may never be equaled, smashing every possible record standing before him. Few items in the football world command as much reverence and admiration as this piece.

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A Glimpse Into Greatness: The 2012/13 Season

The 2012 calendar year was an era-defining stretch in the career of Lionel Messi. It was during this period that he etched his name into the record books with an astounding 91 goals, the most ever scored by a player in a single calendar year - defeating the previous record of 85 goals held by Gerd Müller, a record which stood since 1972. That staggering feat wasn’t just a record; it was a redefining moment for football itself. This monumental feat earned Messi his 4th Ballon d’Or aged just 24, surpassing Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini & Marc o van Basten each with three—a testament to a player who, even by his otherworldly standards, was operating at the peak of his powers. He would go on to double this, winning a total of 8 Ballon d'Or by age 35.

These very boots were worn during that historic run, specifically in a La Liga clash between FC Barcelona and Celta Vigo on November 3, 2012, at the Camp Nou. In that match, Barcelona triumphed 3-0, and Messi, before kickoff, was honoured on the pitch with the European Golden Boot award for being Europe’s top scorer in the previous season. To own the boots from that evening is to own a piece of that iconic memory. This was not just a dominant season — it was an era-defining campaign that continues to set the benchmark for individual excellence in sport of the beautiful game. The boots in question were part of this narrative, part of the canvas on which Messi painted his masterpiece.

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The Boots: A Masterpiece of Performance and Personalisation

These boots are not your standard F50 Adizeros. They are a custom-built, sample version, engineered specifically for Messi’s foot specifications, and feature numerous modifications that set them worlds apart from their retail equivalent counterparts. These are “SAMPLE – not for resale” stamped pairs, made solely for the exclusive use of Leo Messi himself. Due to their numerous & significant bespoke differences, this internal stamp is applied to prevent them being mistakenly sold on the commercial market. 

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Key Player-Specific Features

• Custom Lasting & Fit: Unlike mass-produced models, these boots are wider in the forefoot to accommodate Messi’s unique foot shape crafted around a last (mould) of his feet, with additional padding along the mid-foot and heel areas for enhanced comfort and performance. A common feature among Messi's match-worn boots is the noticeable increased width over any other regular pair, as well as his heavy focus on comfort over weight saving features.

• Lacing System: Extra lace holes were added for optimal lockdown and fit, a crucial modification for a player whose game relies on rapid changes of direction and acceleration. This is a custom feature which has remained an ever-present detail on the vast majority of Messi's custom match spec boots since 2010, the launch of the first generation F50 Adizero, and is even a feature on his current day custom F50 models.

• Gambatrax Soleplate: Messi’s iconic conical front and rear studs—a setup he’s favoured since 2010—are present here, as opposed to the triangular shaped studs found in the same areas on the retail version. These provide unmatched grip and agility perfectly suited to his style of play and the conditions of the elite level pitches enhancing rotational freedom and traction, a feature that's unavailable on retail versions of any model. No matter what model Messi has worn from 2010-present day, his custom Gambatrax soleplate has been a custom element on every single pair.

• Upper Design: Absent is the line of stitching across the midfoot/heel section typically found on commercial F50s on both the lateral & medial sides around the heel cup. Instead, this custom version offer a sleek, smooth upper with internal reinforcements for durability and comfort. The internal heel liner is glued down to the rest of the lining, for a smoother and less aggravating wear experience for Messi compared to the retail version with its pronounced stitched finish, ensuring stability during his trademark dribbles and changes of pace & direction.

• Personalisation: Each boot is adorned with the name of Messi’s firstborn son, 'THIAGO', on the lateral side—highlighting the deeply personal connection Messi had with this pair, with Thiago being born in the same month & year (November 06, 2012) in which he wore this pair, making them one of the very first pairs of his to feature his son's name.

• Medial Branding: On the inner sides, the boots display Messi’s personal logo along with 'LEO' on the left and 'MESSI' on the right—markings that have become synonymous with his custom boots. In these areas, between his name & logo, his iconic number '10' has been added by Adidas as another personal touch for the player.

• Argentina Tribute: The circular Argentina flag detail on the heel celebrates his heritage & beloved homeland, adding a national pride element to this deeply personal pair. The rounded shape version of the national flag specifically is a rare feature among any Adidas Athlete match-worn football boots, with seasoned collectors recognising its significance when it comes to scarcity. 

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Signature and Provenance

Both boots are hand signed by Lionel Messi across the toe box in a clear, un-rushed autograph—making this pair not only game-worn but also personally authenticated by the man himself with these finishing touches. The signatures elevate these boots from elite memorabilia to museum-level artefacts, only increasing their value and desirability.

Even more impressively, this pair have been photo-matched to high-resolution, in-game images of Messi wearing them against Celta Vigo, verifying their authenticity to an irrefutable degree. The boots come with the BC Boots UK Certification Package, ensuring full authenticity and peace of mind for serious collectors.

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A Record Year Etched in Leather and Studs

Let’s not forget what these boots represent: 91 goals in 2012, 60 of them scored in the 2012/13 season alone. Messi also contributed 17 assists across all competitions in 2012/13, registering a staggering 77 goal involvements in just 50 matches, 46 goals and 13 assists in La Liga alone. These numbers defy belief—and these boots were there for part of that journey, a silent partner to Messi’s genius in one of the most iconic seasons of his illustrious career.

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 A Piece of Football History, Fit for a Museum

This pair isn’t just memorabilia. It is living history. A time capsule from an era when Lionel Messi ruled the world of football with unmatched brilliance. For high-end collectors, museums, football purists, this is as rare as it gets. The sheer scarcity of authentic, match-worn Leo Messi boots—especially from his most historic season—cannot be overstated. With modern collecting becoming increasingly competitive as the market continues to grow exponentially (av. 12-15%) year on year, ownership of this pair represents not just a passion for football, but an investment in sporting legacy. If you’re searching for that once-in-a-lifetime piece… this is it.

These boots are more than just equipment—they’re a chapter in the story of the greatest footballer of all time. To own these is to own part of the greatest individual football season of all time, tied to the greatest footballer the sport has ever known. Whether displayed in a private collection, exhibited in a gallery, or preserved in a football museum, these Lionel Messi 2012 match-worn and signed Adidas F50 Adizero boots are more than just shoes. They are relics of a footballing deity’s most iconic chapter—when Messi didn’t just play the game, he redefined it.

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They carried him. They shaped him. They helped him redefine greatness. Remember the record.

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