Rio Ferdinand's diamond-encrusted football boots set to fetch £40k at auction

A spectacular pair of diamond-encrusted football boots once owned by former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand are expected to fetch £40,000 when they are put up for auction this month.

The specially-commissioned Nike T90 size-11s, each set with a ruby and both white and black diamonds, are back on the market six years after they were sold to raise money for Ferdinand’s ‘Live The Dream Foundation’, a charity that helps underprivileged children.

Online bidding with auctioneers Ewbank’s starts on August 19 - and it is estimated that the boots will go under the hammer for between £20,000 and £40,000.

The boots were first commissioned by Embee Jewels of London after former fashion model and dancer Luisa Di Marco came up with the inspirational idea of designing the world ’s most expensive boots as part of the charity appeal.

Ferdinand, who won six Premier League titles with United as well as the Champions League, Club World Cup and the Club World Cup, played 81 times for England during a glittering career that also included spells with West Ham, Bournemouth, Leeds and QPR. The 46-year-old launched a media career after hanging up his boots and is a respected television pundit.

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The boots were commissioned by Di Marco and fashion designer Scott Henshall after consultation with Ferdinand’s management company. They were customised further with spray paint and graffiti-style artwork by rapper and film producer Goldie.

Both boots have Ferdinand’s name machine-stitched to the side in capital letters and have been applied with an 18 ct rose gold shield, hallmarked London 2009, along with the sponsor’s mark EJ.

Each 7.3 x 5cm shield has a round cut ruby set border with an estimated total ruby weight of 1.80 carats. At the centre sits the number 5, set with white round brilliant cut diamonds and round cut black diamonds set as a detail.

The tongue to each boot is set with a 2.4cm diameter gold circular black diamond-set panel, and a No. 90 set with white diamonds, with an estimated total white diamond weight of 0.25 ct. A large black diamond-set Nike Swoosh to one side and a smaller white diamond-set Nike Swoosh decorate the sides, with an estimated total white diamond weight of 0.82 ct.

The back of each heel is even more flamboyant. Adorned with an attached 7.6 x 6.8cm gold panel depicting a winged heart, sword and crown motif, with black enamel lettering spelling the word 'Core', each heart is set with round-cut rubies, with an estimated total ruby weight of 1.12 ct.

The white round brilliant cut diamonds set in the design have an estimated total white diamond weight of 4.54 ct.

Completing the vision in bling is a pair of gold-tipped laces, each set with round brilliant cut white diamonds at the terminals, and with an estimated weight of 0.22 ct each.

The boots were first sold at a Private VIP Auction event in 2009, hosted by James Corden. Also up for auction at the time were England team-mates’ John Terry and Wayne Rooney's match-worn and signed boots covered in jewels.

Ewbank’s specialist Tom Duggan said: “Rio Ferdinand’s gold and diamond encrusted boots must rank as one of the most extraordinary pieces of sporting memorabilia we have ever offered.

“One of the best things about them is that they brought together rare talents in sport, design, film and music to create them, and of course it was all for a good cause. The buyer at that original charity auction is the seller here.”

Live online bidding for Sporting Memorabilia auction is available via www.ewbankauctions.co.uk

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