Nike to Bring Back the Upper of the Original Nike Hypervenom
Mar 23, 2016, by Pat
Update: Nike has accidentally shown off a prototype of the second-gen Nike Hypervenom Phinish featuring the upper of the Nike Hypervenom Phantom 1 Boots in their Nike AntiClog Traction that shows off footage collected during Nike Anti-Clog Traction product testing. This is again a proof that Nike will bring back the upper of the first-gen Nike Hypervenom Cleats (they already created a unique Nike Hypervenom 2 with the upper of the first-gen Nike Hypervenom Boots for Ross Barkley).
Exclusive. In an unprecedented move, Nike is set to completely ditch the controversial upper of the Nike Hypervenom II football boots. Both the Nike Hypervenom Phantom II and the Nike Hypervenom Phinish will return to the upper of the first-generation Hypervenoms from September 2016.
Nike Will Bring Back the Upper of the First-Generation Nike Hypervenom
Close-ups of the upper of the first and second generation of the Nike Hypervenom cleats.
The first-ever Nike Hypervenom boots were unveiled by Barcelona and Brazil star Neymar in May 2013. Debuted in a Brazil - England friendly in early June, the upper of the original Nike Hypervenom was designed to offer a feeling that would be as close as possible to that of playing barefoot.
"The Hypervenom's upper is created using the new NikeSkin system. This execution of NikeSkin features a soft, supple mesh bound with a thin polyurethane film." - Nike Hypervenom press release.
To achieve this, Nike experimented and came up with the iconic honeycomb-like structure of the original Hypervenom. And it was a success, which proved popular amongst professionals and boot lovers alike.
"Ultimately, every component of the original Hypervenom evolved into something better for Hypervenom II." - Nike press release
Two years later, Nike released the second generation of the Hypervenom. In order to bring something new to the table, Nike not only added a heightened collar to the top model, the Hypervenom Phantom II, but also completely altered the upper, both in structure and material composition.
“Players loved the original Hypervenom, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do even better. We’re not afraid to make as many changes as the boot needs to be the best. The kind of players who wear Hypervenom would expect nothing less.” – Max Blau, VP of Nike Football Footwear on the release of the Hypervenom II.
While the debut went well and Neymar, face of the Hypervenom silo, won the Champions League wearing the all-new Nike Hypervenom Phantom II boots, problems began to arise at the beginning of the 2015-16 season. First Neymar, who switched to Mercurials before receiving special hybrids in October, and later other Hypervenom players like Ross Barkley and Mario Mandzukic who got the same treatment this year - it's obvious that something is not quite right with the new Hypervenoms.
Many players, most importantly Neymar, received special Nike Hypervenom II boots.
Soon, they'll be able to switch back to the 'regular' Nike Hypervenom II soccer boots. But instead of utilizing the upper of the Mercurial, like in the player-exclusive hybrid models, the brand will completely revert to the upper of the first-gen Nike Hypervenoms, a move that is sure to make great waves in the boot world. Other features of the Nike Hypervenom II, such as the one-piece upper construction or the Flywire strings are set to remain the same.
The new (old) Nike Hypervenom boots are expected to look almost exactly like this prototype Nike reveiled last summer.
The 'all-new' Nike Hypervenom II boots will see the light as early as in September 2016, while the new (old) upper is unfortunately only expected to make its way to the two top models, the Phantom II and the Phinish.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
Venezia and Rapid Wien Release Special Collaborative Kit
Venezia FC and SK Rapid have unveiled two special limited-edition jerseys to celebrate the 26th anniversary of the historic friendship between their supporters and clubs. The twinning, which officially traces back to January 15, 2000, was commemorated on the pitch during an international friendly at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, with both sides wearing the bespoke designs.
The collaboration includes two distinct shirts designed in close cooperation with the fan groups. The black Unione jersey features an all-over diamond jacquard pattern, complemented by Venezia's orange and green checkerboard on the right shoulder and Rapid's green and white stripes on the left. The white Unione shirt presents a split look blending green and orange accents with line illustrations of iconic architectural landmarks from both Venice and Vienna, including the Doge's Palace and St. Stephen's Cathedral. Both designs place the lion of Saint Mark and the Austrian eagle crests side by side above the date 15.01.2000.
During the friendly match on the Venetian lagoon, the hosts wore the black kit while Rapid took to the pitch in the white version, with Venezia edging a 1-0 victory. The limited-edition jerseys have been made available to supporters through Venezia's official online store and physical club shops.
Unique Jordan PSG 26-27 Third Goalkeeper Kit Leaked - Inspired by Bernard Lama
The striking new goalkeeper jersey from the upcoming Paris Saint-Germain x Jordan third collection has leaked courtesy of PSG insider @lasource75006. Scheduled to drop in the coming weeks alongside the club's 26-27 third player kit, the long-sleeve piece pays direct homage to iconic former Paris Saint-Germain shot-stopper Bernard Lama.
The Jordan PSG 26-27 third goalkeeper shirt draws inspiration from the distinctive Nike template worn by Lama during the 1997-98 season. It features a vibrant red base with sharp black vertical stripes tapering upward from the lower hem. The long sleeves are adorned with dynamic graphic streaks in shades of purple, blue, and black, perfectly channeling the flamboyant goalkeeper aesthetics of the late 1990s.
Gold detailing rounds off the design, highlighted by a centrally aligned Jordan Jumpman sitting above a monochrome Paris Saint-Germain crest and the Qatar Airways chest sponsor.
Neuchâtel Xamax 26-27 Fête des Vendanges Special Kit Released
Swiss Challenge League side Neuchâtel Xamax and technical partner Capelli Sport have officially released a special-edition kit for the 2026 Fête des Vendanges, Neuchâtel's iconic annual wine harvest festival. The bespoke design pays tribute to a historic local milestone, commemorating the 750th anniversary of the consecration of the Collegiate Church of Neuchâtel (Collégiale de Neuchâtel), which took place in 1276.
The Capelli Neuchâtel Xamax 26-27 Fête des Vendanges shirt arrives in a sharp black and silver colorway, covered in intricate architectural illustrations of the famous landmark. The front of the jersey features repeating linework depicting the church's Gothic arches, towers, and rose windows, flowing into detailed clock faces and decorative borders around the lower hem. Finished with matching ornate patterns along the collar and cuffs, all sponsor and club logos are rendered in monochrome silver
Montenegro 2026 Home & Away Kits Released
Italian sportswear brand Legea has rolled out the new home and away kits for the Montenegro national football team. The long-standing partnership between Legea and the Football Association of Montenegro continues with a fresh set of bespoke designs showcased on display mannequins.
The new Montenegro 2026 home kit is predominantly red, accented with two prominent yellow vertical stripes running down the front of the jersey. In line with the central design focus, the white Legea wordmark and the national federation crest sit centrally on the chest above yellow squad numbering. The strip is rounded off with red shorts featuring yellow detailing and matching red socks.
The 2026 away kit adopts an inverted approach on a clean white base. It features a bold central vertical band in red, neatly outlined by thin yellow borders that run from the collar down to the hem. The Legea logo, national team crest, and front numbers are all aligned inside the central red stripe, completed by white shorts and white socks with subtle red and yellow trims.
