For the longest time I have always wanted Nike or adidas to retro a boot but implement modern technology for todays game. It seems as if Nike beat Adidas to the punch again with this release. No better way to celebrate 15 years of speed with the iconic boot and man that give birth to the speed boot race. R9 was a game changer and to celebrate the boot and the man Nike are set to release 1,998 pairs of these limited edition Mercurial Vapor XV boots.
In 1998 Nike launched the first Nike Mercurial speed boot, a boot inspired by and designed for an athlete who was playing a brand of Footy that was simply off the planet. The player was Brasilian football phenomenon Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, popularly dubbed "El Fenómeno," but more commonly known as Ronaldo Aka R9.
The tagline for the Nike Mercurial launch, “Ultralight, so your legs can be as fast as your imagination,” spoke to Ronaldo's unparalleled creativity and speed. Ronaldo not only captured the imagination with his style, speed, skill and incredible eye for goal, but he also reignited the reputation of Brasilian football. His influence continues to this day as he guides the likes of Neymar on their attempts to follow in his footsteps.
Ronaldo is closely associated with the original silver-yellow-blue Nike Mercurial he wore in France during the summer of 1998. Among a field of black-and-white, the Nike Mercurial stood out for its sleek shape and speed-inspired visual design. To celebrate 15 years since the debut of that boot, Nike has created a Vapor IX inspired by the 1998 design.
“Ronaldo’s impact on the game 15 years ago was immense, and in the run up to 2014, we wanted to celebrate that boot and the man himself. We thought a modern construction of his 1998 boot would be a great commemoration of that moment.” said Phil McCartney, VP Nike Football Footwear.
“In the years since the first Mercurial boot was created, modern construction has allowed for a more refined way of making boots. For example, the original version of this boot was constructed of multiple materials stitched together. This version is a one-piece, seamless upper as per other Nike Vapor Mercurial IX editions.
In addition to rethinking the construction, the team approached the boot with a 2013 visual in mind. The yellow from the 1998 version is replaced by the distinctive Volt hue that became synonymous with Nike design on the running track in London last summer. The original silver is updated with a metallic finish.
1,998 pairs of the Mercurial XV Special Edition will be available from May 9 at select retailers around the world, including nike.com.
