Since it was first released in 1998, the Nike Mercurial has been worn by some of soccer’s most legendary players on the biggest stage in the sport. Brazil’s Ronaldo wore the debut pair at the ‘98 World Cup, and Cristiano Ronaldo donned the Mercurial Vapor IV SL 10 years later while helping Manchester United win the Champions League Final. Kylian Mbappe has now emerged as the next face for the Mercurial series, and after nearly 25 years, the goal remains the same for the soccer boots — speed, speed, speed.
Today, Nike reveals the Air Zoom Mercurial, the line’s next step forward that arrives ahead of the Women’s Euro tournament and the Men’s World Cup. As the name suggests, the latest boot is one of the first to feature an Air Zoom unit. The three-quarter length cushioning bag sits directly inside the plate and can actually be seen in the shoe’s interior, bringing players closer to the ground while charging forward at exclusive speeds.
