First Look: David Beckham Predator 26 & Precision
First Look: David Beckham Predator 26 & Precision
White leather, a red fold-over tongue and David Beckham back on Predator. Twenty-five years after that free-kick against Greece, adidas has returned to one of the most recognisable moments of the Beckham era.
On October 6th 2001, England needed something against Greece to reach the 2002 World Cup. Beckham had been taking free-kicks all afternoon before the last one finally cleared the wall and found the top corner in the 93rd minute.
The white, silver and red Predator Precision he wore that day has been attached to the moment ever since.
For the 25th anniversary, adidas has gone back to that story with two boots. Leading the release is a new Predator 26 Elite FT co-designed with Beckham, alongside a limited Made in Germany Predator Precision for anyone who still has the original permanently filed away in their head.
David Beckham Predator 26: The New Signature Boot
This is the boot adidas is putting at the front of the anniversary.
The current Predator 26 Elite FT takes its colour direction from Beckham's 2001 Precision, but the execution is very much his modern Predator line. White covers most of the upper, a rich red leather fold-over tongue sits across the laces, and a premium Fusionskin leather forefoot brings some of that traditional Predator feel into the current boot.
Then there are the Trefoils. Beckham's 2024 special edition was the first Predator to wear one, and this is only the second. Repeated Trefoil branding fills both sets of Three Stripes, another is embroidered into the tongue, and Beckham branding sits on the lateral heel.
That 2024 release sold out within 24 hours, and the oversized Trefoil tongue has already started to become part of the DB Predator identity. On the Predator 26, adidas has pushed that idea further rather than simply copying the Precision.
Predator Precision x Beckham: Built Around 90+3
The second pair is the one the archive crowd will spend longer looking at.
White leather, metallic silver Three Stripes, the red fold-over tongue and the old Predator vamps are all back. "90+3" sits beneath the tongue, Beckham's name runs across both tongues, number 7 is stitched into the heel, and the match date and kick-off time appear on the sockliner.
The elastic strap is probably the best bit. Beckham had his Precisions modified with an elastic band running beneath the sole and studs, pulling the tongue down tighter than the standard retail pair. That strapped-down look became part of his Precision image, before the underfoot elastic strap made its way onto the mainline Predator Mania in 2002.
The entire boot is Made in Germany at adidas' Scheinfeld factory, with the classic Precision upper sitting on a full silver chrome Predator 26 Strikeframe. It gets much closer to Beckham's match-worn setup than a straight colourway remake.
25 Years After Greece
The Predator 26 is the new Beckham boot. Leather forefoot, oversized Trefoil tongue, DB branding and a colourway pulled from 2001, all on the current Predator.
Then adidas has put the Precision beside it for everyone who remembers exactly why those colours matter.
Twenty-five years later, Beckham and Predator are still going back to the same free-kick.
Some of us are still trying it.
Browse the latest adidas Predator football boots at Pro:Direct Soccer, and follow Pro:Direct Soccer on Instagram for first looks, archive stories and everything new from the Bootroom.
https://www.prodirectsport.com
I've been playing football for as long as I can remember, mostly Saturdays and Sundays these days. I've also got a habit of changing boots almost weekly. My teammates can confirm it.
