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The bootiful game

Football boot quiz: From Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, can you match the boots to the star that wears them?

SO, you think you know your football boots?

From Nike Hypervenom to adidas Pureagility, there are some truly stunning pairs on the market.

 Eden Hazard is wearing Nike boots at Chelsea this season, but which ones?
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Eden Hazard is wearing Nike boots at Chelsea this season, but which ones?Credit: EPA

Long gone are the days of plain black boots - in with the colourful, oddly-shaped shoes sported by stars across the globe...

...And occasionally the flash, money-bags Sunday League player. Come on, we all know one.

But before you go bragging about your knowledge of football's flashest footwear, take SunSport's quiz, below.

 Football boots have come a long way since Gary Lineker wore these retro black boots
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Football boots have come a long way since Gary Lineker wore these retro black bootsCredit: Alamy
  • After you take on our 12-part tester, read some more about the boots - and the stars that wear them - underneath, but don't scroll down too soon, there's spoilers!

So how did you get on? Well, whether you chalked up a big, fat zero or a world-beating 12/12, find out more about the boots on show.

First up there was Lionel Messi's Pureagility which will set you back a princely £229.95 - with adidas describing them as: "Messi's domination of the game is surpassed by no other.

"Where others are fast, he is first. Strive for the same superhuman acceleration and untouchable agility in these elite-level football boots.

 Adidas' football boots, worn by Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Dele Alli and Paul Pogba to name a few
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Adidas' football boots, worn by Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Dele Alli and Paul Pogba to name a fewCredit: Adidas
 Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi sporting their adidas boots for the 2016-17 season
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Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi sporting their adidas boots for the 2016-17 seasonCredit: Getty Images

"Featuring a light, snug-fitting AGILITYKNIT upper that fuels the type of aggressive play that wins matches."

Meanwhile the Purecontrol donned by Paul Pogba and Dele Alli to name a few - also £229.95 - are described as: "Match-deciding goals. Elite play. Trophy-hoisting moments on the biggest stage. Fast alone won't get you there.

"In today's game, you have to be first. Dominate your rivals with ultimate quickness in these football boots with a laceless adidas Primeknit upper for precision and total control at high speed."

 Paul Pogba wearing his adidas boots, also worn by Tottenhams Dele Alli
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Paul Pogba wearing his adidas boots, also worn by Tottenhams Dele AlliCredit: PA:Press Association
 Dele Alli sporting his adidas boots, also donned by Man United's record buy Paul Pogba
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Dele Alli sporting his adidas boots, also donned by Man United's record buy Paul PogbaCredit: Getty Images

Sounds pretty quick, but how about Luis Suarez's Speed Of Light X16 pair? The same price, adidas claim: "Be the first to cause chaos with unmatchable speed.

"Destroy every defence. Speed's your style. It's lighter, quicker and faster than they'll ever see.

"With the new ultralight sprintframe outsole you will be the first to lose your opponents.

"Designed with a dynamic techfit collar that moulds perfectly to your foot, the X16 will support you in all your fastest movements."

 Pumas trio of new boots, worn by a host of Premier League stars in 2016-17
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Pumas trio of new boots, worn by a host of Premier League stars in 2016-17Credit: Puma

Onto the Puma entires, first of all, Olivier Giroud's £160 evoPower, which the manufacturer describe as: "The versatile and lightweight evoPOWER 1.3 Mixed is engineered to optimize the interaction between kicking velocity and accuracy when playing on soft ground.

"The G.S.F outsole technology works as a spine, delivering gradual stability from the heel to the forefoot.

 Olivier Giroud wears the evoPower for Arsenal in the 2016-17 season
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Olivier Giroud wears the evoPower for Arsenal in the 2016-17 seasonCredit: Empics

"Together with the innovative Japanese AdapLite upper material, it enables the foot to bend similar to a barefoot kicking motion, thus ensuring optimum power delivery to the ball.

"The new anatomically engineered outsole offers an optimal mix between stability and agility in wet conditions."

Meanwhile, Cesc Fabregas' evoTouch are tad more expensive at £220 - but what do you get for your money?

 Cesc Fabregas is wearing the Puma evoTouch for Chelsea this season
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Cesc Fabregas is wearing the Puma evoTouch for Chelsea this seasonCredit: Getty Images

Puma say: "The new evoTOUCH PRO marks a revolution in the field of leather football boots.

"The soft premium K-Touch upper offers unprecedented touch to the ball in all conditions, while the evoKNIT sock construction creates a supportive barefoot feel and supreme comfort.

"The internal GripTex technology ensures optimal grip and avoids slipping inside the shoe.

"The shoe's new tooling features a Speedtrack spine for enhanced reactivity and torsional stability, with the conical studs ensuring excellent ground penetration and stability on soft ground."

 Man Citys Sergio Aguero will wear the evoSpeed throughout the 2016-17 term
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Man Citys Sergio Aguero will wear the evoSpeed throughout the 2016-17 termCredit: PA:Press Association

Finally from Puma is Sergio Aguero's £190 evoSpeed, with the footwear giants saying: "Extremely lightweight, the ground-breaking evoSPEED SL II Leather football boot for firm ground is a special PUMA shoe designed for the special moments.

"Its soft premium leather upper comes with quilted panels to provide the player with maximum comfort.

"The super lightweight nylon outsole with a Speedtrack spine together with a new stud configuration offers the perfect balance between traction and acceleration."

 The Nike Hypervenom boots worn by Tottenham forward Harry Kane
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The Nike Hypervenom boots worn by Tottenham forward Harry KaneCredit: Nike
 Tottenham star Harry Kane wearing his Nike Hypervenom boots
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Tottenham star Harry Kane wearing his Nike Hypervenom bootsCredit: Reuters

Looking at Nike's entries, Harry Kane's Hypervenoms cost £230, with the manufacturers saying: "Engineered for the attacking goal-scorer, the Nike Hypervenom offers maximum agility and barefoot-like touch on the ball."

Then there's Eden Hazard and Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Mercurial Vapors - which start at £180 - with Nike saying: "Designed with a textured upper and innovative traction, the Nike Mercurial Vapor enhances ball control and change of direction when playing on short-grass pitches."

 The Nike Mercurial Vapor boots worn by Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Man United
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The Nike Mercurial Vapor boots worn by Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Man UnitedCredit: Nike
 Man United new-boy has been prolific wearing his red Nike boots this season so far
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Man United new-boy has been prolific wearing his red Nike boots this season so farCredit: Reuters

Finally there's Ross Barkley and Eric Dier's Magista entrey, which can cost in excess of £300.

However Nike justify the hefty price-tag by saying: "Constructed with an unprecedented fusion of Flyknit and seamless leather, designed for the playmaker who creates opportunities anywhere on the pitch to control the match."

 Nike Magista boots worn by a host of Premier League stars, including Ross Barkley
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Nike Magista boots worn by a host of Premier League stars, including Ross BarkleyCredit: Twitter
 Ross Barkley and Eric Dier both wear the Nike Magista boots this season
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Ross Barkley and Eric Dier both wear the Nike Magista boots this seasonCredit: BPI

But with all of these flash colours and funky ankle-support designs, what about the good old-fashioned plain black boot?

Well, Everton new-boy Yannick Bolasie's got you back as he wears the Nike Mercurial Superfly - plain black. Classy. Elegant. Old School.

 The classy, black, old-fashioned plain boot, worn here by Everton's Yannick Bolasie
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The classy, black, old-fashioned plain boot, worn here by Everton's Yannick BolasieCredit: PA:Press Association

With variations worn by stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Alexis Sanchez, Nike say: "To help you stay fast on the pitch, Mercurial boots are designed with a system of speed, combining minimal construction, lightweight materials and a strategically engineered traction pattern."

But, you know, just in case you love the flash boots and have your eye on a new pair... Check out Granit Xhaka's Under Armour entry... Enough said.

 Granit Xhaka's wacky Under Armour boots to be worn throughout 2016-17
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Granit Xhaka's wacky Under Armour boots to be worn throughout 2016-17Credit: Array
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