An article of footwear comprising: an upper including a ball control portion; the ball control portion comprising a plurality of protrusions that are configured to bend; each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions including a major axis, a minor axis, and a normal axis, the normal axis being approximately perpendicular to the major axis and the minor axis; each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions further including a first approximately planar gripping portion and a second approximately planar griping portion that extend in a direction along the major axis and in a direction along the normal axis, and a first and a second side edge (244, 246) extending between the first and the second planar gripping portions (240, 242) along the minor axis and a top surface extending along the major axis and the minor axis, wherein the extension of each protrusion along the major axis is longer than the extension along the minor axis, so that the plurality of protrusions are configured to bend in a manner so that the planar gripping portions (240, 242) confront and contact a surface of a ball during a kick, the major axes of some protrusions of the plurality of protrusions are aligned with a curve on the surface of the ball when the ball control portion contacts the ball during a kick, such that some of the plurality of protrusions are disposed in an arc-like configuration, and the ball control portion comprises a base portion that is associated with an outer surface of the upper, and wherein the plurality of protrusions are oriented in a generally perpendicular manner to the base portion and the outer surface of the upper, characterized in that the base portion comprises a plurality of hub portions connected by a plurality of connecting members; the plurality of hub portions and connecting members are separated by a plurality of gaps, wherein the plurality of hub portions and the plurality of gaps have a substantially similar hexagonal shape;and each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is disposed on the hub portions. an upper including a ball control portion; the ball control portion comprising a plurality of protrusions that are configured to bend; each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions including a major axis, a minor axis, and a normal axis, the normal axis being approximately perpendicular to the major axis and the minor axis; each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions further including a first approximately planar gripping portion and a second approximately planar griping portion that extend in a direction along the major axis and in a direction along the normal axis, and a first and a second side edge (244, 246) extending between the first and the second planar gripping portions (240, 242) along the minor axis and a top surface extending along the major axis and the minor axis, wherein the extension of each protrusion along the major axis is longer than the extension along the minor axis, so that the plurality of protrusions are configured to bend in a manner so that the planar gripping portions (240, 242) confront and contact a surface of a ball during a kick, the major axes of some protrusions of the plurality of protrusions are aligned with a curve on the surface of the ball when the ball control portion contacts the ball during a kick, such that some of the plurality of protrusions are disposed in an arc-like configuration, and the ball control portion comprises a base portion that is associated with an outer surface of the upper, and wherein the plurality of protrusions are oriented in a generally perpendicular manner to the base portion and the outer surface of the upper, characterized in that the base portion comprises a plurality of hub portions connected by a plurality of connecting members; the plurality of hub portions and connecting members are separated by a plurality of gaps, wherein the plurality of hub portions and the plurality of gaps have a substantially similar hexagonal shape;and each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is disposed on the hub portions.