Adidas Launch Zinedine Zidane Predator: 30 Years in Gold

Glasgow, 15 May 2002. Roberto Carlos lifts the ball towards the edge of the box. Zinedine Zidane waits, adjusts his body and catches it with his left foot before it ever has the chance to touch the grass. Top corner. Real Madrid 2, Bayer Leverkusen 1. European champions. Still one of the greatest goals of all time. 

Twenty-four years later, adidas has taken the shape of that moment and put it back onto a Predator.

The new Zinedine Zidane Predator celebrates 30 years of one of football’s most enduring player and brand partnerships. White, metallic gold and unmistakably Zizou, it brings together the current Predator with details pulled from Marseille, France, Madrid and some of the most famous moments of his career.

At Ultra Football, Zidane and Predator is about as good as football boot storytelling gets. Add gold into the equation and this becomes a very easy release to get excited about.

The limited-edition adidas Zinedine Zidane Predator launches at Ultra Football from 6PM AEST on Tuesday, 8 September 2026.

Shop adidas Predator football boots at Ultra Football.

30 Years of Zidane and adidas

Zizou’s relationship with adidas stretches across three decades and almost every level of football culture. There was the Predator Accelerator during France’s 1998 World Cup triumph. The Champions League nights with Real Madrid. The gold Predator Absolute worn through his final World Cup in 2006. The advertising campaigns, archive releases and the years since retirement where his influence has remained as strong as ever.

Predator suited him because the boot always promised the things Zidane made look effortless: touch, control, precision and the ability to decide a match with one movement.

The current anniversary edition does not simply recreate one of those old boots. Instead, adidas has taken the latest Predator and filled it with references to the whole journey.

That is what makes it interesting. his is not one moment being reissued. It is 30 years condensed into one pair.

White, Gold and a Career Written Into the Boot

The starting point is classic Zidane. A predominantly white upper is finished with metallic gold detailing across the boot, giving the Predator a premium look without losing the simplicity that made so many of Zidane’s own boots memorable.

Blue, white and red detailing on the lateral side references France, but the deeper storytelling starts when you get closer.

The fold-over tongue carries Zidane’s personal logo in gold. Its inspiration comes from that 2002 Champions League final volley, turning one of football’s most recognisable pieces of body movement into a personal mark.

Even the elastic straps holding the tongues in place tell different parts of his story.

The right boot looks at the professional journey, referencing Cannes, Bordeaux, Turin and Madrid. Different cities, different stages, same player.

The left looks further back. Marseille. La Castellane. The communities and grassroots clubs that existed before Juventus, Real Madrid, the World Cup and everything that followed.

Then there are the Three Stripes.

Adidas has integrated lenticular branding into the stripes, shifting between the adidas logo and ZZ lettering depending on the angle. A bespoke ZZ30 mark completes the anniversary treatment, commemorating 30 years together.

There is a lot happening, but importantly, it does not look overloaded. White does the calming. Gold does the talking.

Explore the latest adidas Predator range.

Why Zidane and Predator Still Hit Differently

Football boots are full of nostalgia now, but Zidane occupies a particular place in it.

He came from an era where the world’s best footballers could still feel mysterious. You saw them in Champions League matches, World Cups, magazine spreads and grainy football adverts rather than every few hours through a phone.

And Zidane never needed to look like he was trying particularly hard.

The ball arrived. Someone closed him down. A shoulder dropped. A first touch took two players out of the game. Something impossible suddenly looked completely reasonable.

Predator became attached to that image.

The 1998 Accelerator remains one of the great boots of the era. The gold Predator Absolute from 2006 turned his final tournament into another visual reference point. adidas has returned to Zidane’s Predator history several times since, including gold anniversary editions and the eventual rerelease of that famous Absolute.

We have seen the appetite for those boots before. There is something about Zidane, a fold-over tongue and a bit of gold that football boot fans do not need explained to them.

This new edition has the advantage of bringing all that history onto the current Predator rather than asking players to choose between nostalgia and modern performance.

Modern Predator Performance, Zidane Treatment

Underneath the anniversary details is the current Elite Predator concept. The latest Predator Elite Fold-Over Tongue platform is built around a soft, lightweight upper with integrated grip zones designed to improve contact when striking the ball. The fold-over tongue creates the traditional Predator silhouette while also giving the laces a cleaner covering across the striking area.

The current Elite platform also places a strong emphasis on stability through the midfoot and traction underneath, creating a Predator that feels significantly more modern and streamlined than the heavy power boots many players will remember from the 2000s.

That balance is important here. You get the tongue. You get the Zidane references. You get the white and gold. But this is still a current-generation football boot designed to be worn rather than simply placed on a shelf... Although plenty of pairs probably will end up there too.

Once you get these on feet let us tell you - you won't want to take them off. They are incredibly comfortably and a step up compared to the regular model which is still one of the best on the market. 

Why the Zidane Predator Should Move Quickly

A genuine all-time player. One of football’s most iconic boot silos. A 30-year anniversary. A limited production run. Strong storytelling. A fold-over tongue. And gold.

Gold football boots tend to find an audience anyway. On Zidane, the colour already has history.

For long-time Predator fans, the appeal is obvious. For collectors, there are enough specific anniversary details to separate it from a standard colour update. And for younger players who know Zidane through highlights, EA FC, Real Madrid history and the endless circulation of that volley, it brings one of the game’s modern greats onto the Predator they can actually play in now.

It is also a genuinely good-looking football boot. Sometimes that matters more than anything.

With adidas confirming limited quantities, we would expect the most popular sizes to be watched closely from launch.

Adidas Zinedine Zidane Predator Release Date Australia

The special-edition adidas Zinedine Zidane Predator will be available at Ultra Football from 6PM (AEST) on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, subject to stock availability.

Thirty years of Zidane and adidas. Marseille to Madrid. The Accelerator. The gold Absolute. Hampden Park. France. Predator.

Now all of it lands on one boot.

Shop adidas Predator at Ultra Football from launch.

Gold boots usually do not need much help getting noticed. These ones definitely will not.

FAQs

When does the adidas Zinedine Zidane Predator release in Australia?

The adidas Zinedine Zidane Predator is scheduled to launch at Ultra Football from 6PM AEST on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, subject to stock availability.

What is the adidas Zidane Predator celebrating?

The special-edition Predator celebrates 30 years of partnership between adidas and Zinedine Zidane, bringing together references to his upbringing, professional career, international achievements and some of his most famous moments in football.

What colour is the Zinedine Zidane Predator?

The boot features a premium white and metallic gold colourway with blue, white and red detailing referencing Zidane’s career with France.

What does ZZ30 mean on the adidas Predator?

ZZ30 is a bespoke anniversary mark created to celebrate 30 years of the partnership between Zinedine Zidane and adidas.

What details on the Zidane Predator reference his career?

Details include Zidane’s personal logo inspired by his 2002 Champions League final volley, references to cities from his professional career, nods to his Marseille roots, lenticular adidas and ZZ Three Stripes branding and the ZZ30 anniversary mark.

Is the adidas Zinedine Zidane Predator limited edition?

Yes. adidas has confirmed the special-edition Zidane Predator will be produced in limited quantities.

What technology is used in the adidas Zidane Predator?

The special edition is based on the latest Predator performance platform, combining a lightweight upper and grip-focused striking zones with the iconic fold-over tongue, midfoot stability and a modern traction system. Final specifications should be checked against the individual Ultra Football product listing at launch.

Where can I buy the adidas Zinedine Zidane Predator in Australia?

The boot will be available through Ultra Football from 6PM AEST on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, subject to stock availability.