Why Ella Toone isn't wearing Nike's women-led Phantom Luna boots at World Cup

Ella Toone was made the global face of Nike’s Phantom GX boot launch in January, an opportunity that signified her rise off the pitch over the previous year as much as on it.

Nike have since released the Phantom Luna, a boot that was two years in the making and created specifically with the female foot at the forefront of the design process. Although not exclusively a women’s boot, the lower cuff on the ankle and a higher collar for increased foot lockdown intend to reduce the risk of ACL injuries that have claimed some of the game’s biggest names.

Toone has had the opportunity to try the Luna but will stick with her GX for at least the time being and has a very solid reason for doing so – she already has them custom made just for her.

"I did try [the Phantom Luna] - they were comfy and fitted nicely - and I understand why the boots were made but I stuck with mine," the England star explained.

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"I actually have mine modified to my feet, so they’re perfect. I've got one 6¾ and one 7 boot – my feet are just ridiculous. I've got padding in them so they fit me perfectly. I'm just happy with the boots that I'm in that have been made to my feet."

Toone has seen her career skyrocket since the start of 2022. At that time, she was still blown away by getting recognised while shopping in the Trafford Centre, with Euro 2022 subsequently making her a household name and one of the biggest draws for fans at both club and international level.

The 23-year-old has expanded her brand with a growing YouTube channel, an avenue that hasn’t had much uptake among footballers in Europe, and a big presence on TikTok that have laid bare an infectious personality. However, she is not expecting to post during the World Cup.

That is, unless Mary [Earps] ‘makes me do something with her’…