FA Cup final 2014: Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski to wear special boots in FA Cup tribute to Michael Schumacher

Podolski grew up near Schumacher in the North-Rhine Westphalia region of Germany as the seven-time Formula 1 world champion continues his recovery from a ski accident

Lukas Podolski will wear these special boots in the FA Cup final to pay tribute to Michael Schumacher (Getty Images)

Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski will use the FA Cup final to pay tribute to seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher in his efforts to recover from a serious head trauma suffered in a skiing accident in December last year.

Michael Schumacher latest update

Schumacher has undergone two operations on his brain to ease swelling and remove haematomas after suffering the serious accident in the exclusive French ski resort in Meribel. Attempts to awaken the German began in late January, and remain on-going with his manager Sabine Kehm urging fans of the 45-year-old to be patient with his recovery.

The former Jordan, Benetton, Ferrari and Mercedes driver recorded 91 wins during an unrivalled career that marks him out as the most successful driver to ever grace the F1 grid, and tributes have flooded in since his accident from all over the world as he continues his treatment in the Grenoble University Hospital.

Podolski, who hails from Poland, moved to the North-Rhine Westphalia region of Germany when he was two – the same area that Schumacher was born and grew up in, and the Germany international has already paid tribute to one of his heroes with regular tweets including the hashtag “#KeepFightingMichael”.

The 28-year-old Germany international will also wear special boots dedicated to Schumacher in the FA Cup final showdown against Hull City, where Arsenal will be looking to end their nine-year trophy drought with a victory at Wembley.

Posting on his Twitter account on Friday ahead of the match, Poldolski wrote: “My boots for the final !! And the best wishes to Michael. #keeponfighting #schumi #GunningForTheCup #poldi #wembley”

Kehm confirmed last month that Schumacher was “showing moments of awakening” after reports that the German was showing small signs of progress in his recovery.

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“Michael is making progress,” Kehm added in a formal statement. “He shows moments of consciousness and awakening.”