Abstract: Presented are wear-resistant polymeric shields for reinforcing segments of footwear, methods for making/using such shields, and shoes with a high-strength, abrasion-resistant thermoplastic toe shield covering the shoe's front face. An athletic shoe includes an upper with an outer shell that receives a user's foot. A forefoot region of the upper's outer shell includes a toe box, while the forefoot and midfoot regions include a vamp. A sole structure is attached to the upper to support the user's foot. The sole structure includes a ground-engaging outsole and an outer-perimeter sidewall. A toe shield is bonded to and projects from outward-facing portions of the upper and sole structure. The toe shield is a single-piece structure fabricated from an abrasion-resistant, flexible thermoplastic copolymer. The toe shield may extend across forward portions of the vamp and toe box, a forward portion of the sole's sidewall, and a forward edge of the outsole's ground-facing surface.