Nike Mercurial

Mercurial

The year was 1996, and Nike were looking to update their trusty football boot, the Nike Tiempo, so they collaborated with a team of players who had the same panache and flair that they hoped to imbue the boots with. This was the Brazilian men’s football team, who had won The World Cup two years earlier. The technology that this partnership ignited was so forward-thinking that Nike believed it should have its own name: the Nike Mercurial.

By pursuing a weight target of under 250g, an unprecedented technological process was set in motion. Nike emulated the spikes normally used on the athletics track along with their concomitant sole plate technology, which dropped the thickness of the plate from 3mm to 1.75mm. This was an astronomical shift. The next element was a synthetic KNG-100 leather upper that absorbed less water than standard leather, meaning that it still retained its lightweight properties in wet conditions. New innovations aimed at improving ball control were also engineered via a technical sticky substance taken from the motorcycle industry. These novel materials added to the exuberant aesthetic and technical capabilities of the Mercurial, leaving the footballing world in awe of the design.

Since then, this famous Nike line has been the launchpad for some of the most innovative football tech around. Each of these technologies pushed the boundaries of what had previously been thought possible with a football boot. With every update, the fit, ball control capabilities, dynamic style and rooted traction improved. But, in reality, they all fell under the pursuit of one ideal.

The word ‘mercurial’ describes something highly volatile, shifting and unpredictable. When the Mercurials were released at the 1998 World Cup in France, they were seen being worn by a certain young Brazilian striker who perfectly embodied the name of the shoe with his agile movements, blistering pace and prolific goal-scoring ability. It’s no surprise the Mercurials became associated with Ronaldo’s magical talent. He wore them throughout the competition, racking up enough goals to win the golden boot and also donning the now famous silver/blue/yellow colourway in the final.

The Mercurial became a flagship design, not just for Nike but for football. Each generation has had their ‘mercurial’ player who has lived up to the same pure ideals as the boot itself. Through the 2000s, a young Portuguese talent was beginning to make waves in the sport. A player with a similar name, similar flair on the ball and similar rapid pace. His name? Cristiano Ronaldo. It was during this time that the Nike Mercurial torch passed from R9 to CR7, signifying the emergence of a new titan on the global football scene.Nike’s iconic relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo has been characterized by their enduring loyalty to each other and their impressively prolific boot output. Yet, through the mid-to-late 2010s, Nike spread its wings and looked further afield, awarding Brazilian sensation Neymar Jr. his Mercurial Vapor signature boot, while Dutch female international Lieke Martens, known also for her remarkable dribbling skills, was also bestowed with a signature Mercurial of her own. In the years following these honours, Nike paid tribute to the electric Parisian talent of Kylian Mbappé as well.

Over the years, speed, explosiveness and an unplayable dribbling talent have defined the ‘mercurial’ player. These are some of the most exhilarating players in the world, and it was by providing the slickest style, the sturdiest traction and the lightest of touches to those players that the Nike Mercurial became king.