The history of PUMA's iconic football boot THE KING

Neymar Junior’s new PUMA King brings back good old memories. Even back when Pelé was the world’s biggest football star, PUMA equipped him with the classy football boots. More than 50 years later, they still score. Learn about the history behind the legendary leather boots.

1966 saw the birth of a football legend. Portuguese football player Eusebio became the top scorer at the 1966 World Cup. In that very year, he also won the Portuguese championship with his team Benfica Lisbon. While all eyes were on Eusebio, the world was also very interested in his shoes. PUMA shoes. Back then, Eusebio played in PUMA WEMBLEY shoes, the predecessor of the KING. This was the beginning of a new era for football boots, the PUMA KING EUSEBIO hit the market in 1968.

Some of the innovative features of the PUMA KING EUSEBIO included non-slip nylon screw studs and a new sole construction which made the boots extremely flexible.

Back then, football boots with studs were rather stiff. Eusebio asked Rudolf Dassler for soft and flexible shoes. With that in mind, the PUMA team started to invent the "Wunderschuh". Luckily it got developed in time for the World Cup in 1966, the year in which Eusebio was top scorer and best player of the tournament.

Helmut Fischer

1966
Eusebio

Portuguese striker sensation Eusebio was the top scorer of the 1966 World Cup in England, wearing PUMA football boots. Honoring this accomplishment and Eusebio's continued fantastic form, PUMA introduced the legendary KING boot in 1968.

Portuguese striker sensation Eusebio achieves the top scorer title of the 1966 World Cup in England while wearing PUMA football boots. Honoring this accomplishment and Eusebio's continued fantastic form, PUMA introduces the legendary KING boot in 1968.

1970
Pelé

With the PUMA KING from 1970, we created another revolutionary product. Its flat structure made it lighter with increased softness and comfort. PUMA's aim was to always sign the top-notch superstars playing in PUMAs. Pelé wore the new PUMA KING boots with success, as he was crowned “Player of the Tournament”. For him and the Brazilian team, it was the country’s third World Cup title. After finishing his career, Pelé was officially honored as “Football Player of the Century”. Armin and Gerd Dassler presented the shoe to him before the tournament.

With the PUMA KING from 1970, we created another revolutionary product. Its flat structure made it lighter with increased softness and comfort. PUMA's aim was to always sign the top-notch superstars playing in PUMAs. Pelé has long been a member of the team and he wore the new PUMA KING boots with success. Pelé is crowned “Player of the Tournament” while wearing PUMA KING boots. For him and the Brazilian team, it's the country’s third World Cup title. After finishing his career, Pelé is officially honored as “Football Player of the Century”. Armin and Gerd Dassler presented the shoe to him before the tournament.

1974
Johan Cruijff

Cruyff was a fan of PUMA's King boots and by 1974 had signed a sponsorship with PUMA. In 1999, he was voted European Player of the Century in an election held by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics, and came second behind Pelé in their World Player of the Century poll.

1986
Diego Maradona

In the world of football, one player dominated the headlines: four years after his first World Cup appearance in Spain, Diego Armando Maradona went down in history with his second goal in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Mexico against England. He passed six players, touched the ball eleven times and scored the “Goal of the Century”. He was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player and led Argentina to its second World Cup title after 1978. Maradona played every minute of every game – and he played them in KINGs.

In the world of football, one player dominates the headlines: four years after his first World Cup appearance in Spain, Diego Armando Maradona goes down in history with his second goal in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Mexico against England. He passes six players, touches the ball eleven times and scores the “Goal of the Century”. He is awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player and leads Argentina to its second World Cup title after 1978. Maradona played every minute of every game – and he had played them in KINGs.

1990
Lothar Matthäus

PUMA KING player Lothar Matthäus took the World Cup title with Germany in 1990. The captain of the national team was also voted “European Footballer of the Year”, “World Footballer of the Year” and “World Athlete”.

PUMA KING player Lothar Matthäus leads Germany to the country’s World Cup title in Italy. The captain of the national team is also voted “European Footballer of the Year”, “World Footballer of the Year” and “World Athlete”.

2020
Neymar Jr.

The KING is back. Neymar Jr. plays with our most lightweight KING style to date, the KING Platinum. We stripped this state-of-the-art football boot down to its pure essentials and used the best materials to give him a fit and feel on the ball that is second to none.

Legendary!
The PUMA KING

The history of PUMA's iconic football boots

The history of PUMA's iconic football boots