The 10 Best Players To Wear The Nike CTR360

One of the Iconic Nike Silhouettes of the 2010's. Some would say gone too quickly. Others would point to it as a mere stepping stone to the more advanced recent silo's of Magista and Phantom. Wherever you stand. It remains true that at one stage the CTR had a chokehold over players all over the world. From the biggest European stages, to Sunday league pitches in Australia. 

Marketed originally as a playmakers boot, for the classic number 10—the trequartista linking the midfield and forward lines. The CTR360 quickly resonated well and transcended its given brand, with some of the best players in their positions on both ends of the pitch choosing it as their weapon of choice.  

Here we select 10 of the best (not in order) players to ever wear the CTR360 and make it their own: 

Number 1. Javier Mascherano

The perfect example of how the CTR360 Silo was an all rounder. Under Tito Vilanova, the ex Liverpool legend, and hard hitting Argentine could be found anchoring the Barcelona midfield or commanding the backline. As Blaugrana went back to the top of the league.   

Number 2. David Luiz

We know this guy definitely fancied himself as a number 10 at times, and a few times the marauding centre back did leave us with our jaws on the floor (for both good and bad reasons). David Luiz is in here because he's the reason that we know the CTR360 is well and truly effective from outside 30 yards.  

Number 3. Jack Wilshere

What could have been? An Englishman with a bit of Trequartista in him finally. Wilshere was the perfect man to carry the CTR360 flag in the premier league after the departure of Fabregas to Puma. Wilshere at his peak could be seen cutting open defences with balletic skill, and flying into tackles with reckless abandon all over the pitch. Ultimately he never reached his full potential, but a true CTR360 player he definitely was.  

Number 4. Mario Balotelli

The often maligned, and misunderstood. Super Mario experienced the full rollercoaster of professional football. Bouncing from fever pitch highs to embarrassing lows, triumphant redemption arcs and back again. Mario does what Mario wants, and so you know he must have genuinely liked these boots. From his days terrorising United in the Premier League to making the World Cup Semi Finalists look like children, Balotelli experienced some of his most iconic moments wearing the Nike CTR360 and boy did they score him some phenomenal goals. We're still watching that one against Germany to this day.   

Number 5. Carlos Tevez

A Premier League conquering Manchester City side featuring not one but possibly four top strikers, one of them would have to drop in to link up the play, and that was Carlos Tevez. One of the most utterly tenacious players to set foot on a football pitch, Tevez showed he could score and assist finishing his career at City with 58 goals and 24 assists in 4 seasons. Not a bad return.

Number 6. Sami Khedira

Not many players are fortunate enough to win things in football. And even less win the biggest one of them all. Sami Khedira's trophy cabinet, is quite full. He got there by being reliably class in a deep lying midfield role, across multiple teams and leagues. The position is unassuming on the surface but the first to be blamed when something goes wrong. Mistake is not really a word Sami is familiar with. Everything he did on the pitch was done with precision and the calm confidence of someone who has been everywhere and done everything.  

Number 7. Sergio Busquets

All class once again. A true one club man and La Masia icon. Sergio Busquets was made to play football at Barcelona, as his longevity attests. Criminally underrated but as Barcelona went through a tough moment and the others in his class retired or moved elsewhere Sergio's class shone through, his leadership, and metronomic dependency in midfield the perfect way to shepherd through the new era at the club. 

Number 8. Samuel Umtiti

Were there better players to put in here? Maybe. But one thing we love is a throwback. Aubameyang training in old school Mercs and Totti getting the tongue reattached to his Tiempos touches on a certain craving for nostalgia we all have. And Samuel Umtiti pulling out the CTR360 Maestri ii at Barcelona training in 2019 satisfies that very same craving. Delightful.

Number 9. Cesc Fabregas

Yes. This list couldn't exist without Arsenal's talismanic midfielder. The face of the original CTR360 campaign saw Fabregas' decision making process in slow motion, watching himself survey every possible pass option before selecting the best option and playing an inch perfect ball into space for his striker to finish. Basically real life, as Fabregas finished in double figures in both goals and assists that season. Unfortunately he would soon move onto a new boot deal with Puma while at Barcelona, but we won't be forgetting that time at the gunners any time soon.

Number 10. Andrés Iniesta

Last, but certainly not least, Andrés Iniesta. They say the only reason he doesn't have a Ballon d'Or is because Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo exist. Because he was a midfielder of a generation in the team of a generation. He won quite literally everything there is to win in football. And he was at the centre of it all, an essential piece of Barcelona's most dominant midfield ever, and the piece that would link that midfield with the best forward player we've ever seen in Lionel Messi (who would owe at least half of his career goals to this man). In him, Nike found the perfect man to take on the mantle of the marquee CTR360 player. Encapsulating everything the silo stood for. And if you've seen any of his highlights from Vissel Kobe he's definitely still got it.