Lower thirds:

00:04 Report by / Christian Pricelius
00:20 Marianne Paul / Shoemaker Adidas
00:55 Matthias Linz / Production Director Adidas
01:32 Matthias Linz / Production Director Adidas
02:50 Matthias Linz / Production Director Adidas

Script:

00:01
A boot like this could be the key to a World Cup footballer's success. Incredibly light and made of innovative synthetic materials, they are customized to fit each athlete’s unique characteristics. 

00:13
And they're handmade in Germany at the Adidas factory in Bavaria.

00:21 
+++ Marianne Paul, Shoemaker, Adidas +++
"I'm really proud when I see Messi playing in his boots."

00:25
Global stars like Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal and Florian Wirtz are among those who ordered their custom-made football boots here for the World Cup. About one in three World Cup players has a boot deal with Adidas.

00:40
Production manager Matthias Linz shows us round Adidas' custom orthotic workshop. Individual medical reports and measurements from orthopedists are recorded in detail. 

00:53 
+++ Matthias Linz, Production Director, Adidas +++
"It needs more volume here on the inside, and also here on the outside. And that's achieved using a fitting like this, which adds volume to the strips."

01:02
A player might use more than a dozen pairs in a season. The wear and tear is greater for professionals.

01:10 SLOW
Unfortunately, the old leather football boots are no longer available today. Modern boots are made of hi-tech fibers and often weigh as little as 150 grams. The reduced weight helps players move faster. 

1:25
Black ridges help apply spin and cut to the ball.

01:29 
+++ Matthias Linz, Production Director, Adidas +++
"The World Cup model is this series here. These are the ones currently in use—the different lines, as we call them. So we have the Predator, we have the F50, we have the Copa, and this here is the F50 Evo. It’s particularly special because it’s very, very, very, very light, which suits the very fast players and helps them squeeze out a few more kilometers per hour."

01:53
The Predator and Copa models are available online for 150 to 250 euros. At the store, they cost significantly more. Unlike the 1980s, when you could have any color you liked as long as it was black, today's boots are available in a variety of hues.

02:12
Secured on customized lasts, the boots pass through all stages of production. With 20 employees, Apex makes around 7,000 pairs of “made in Germany” shoes annually and, according to the company, is profitable. 

02:31
The vast majority of Adidas footwear is manufactured in Asia. It's the world's second-largest sportswear brand after Nike.

02:39
You'll also find custom-made footwear for boxing champions and plenty of football history here. For Adidas, the factory is a boost to its image.

02:48 
+++ Matthias Linz, Production Director, Adidas +++
"We also make sure that we represent the brand on screens and in stadiums around the world by supplying professional athletes with footwear from Germany."

02:58
Adidas also offers on-call services when speed is of the essence. This pair is to be sent express delivery to one of its 350 top athletes.

END