Exclusive: Nike Mercurial Neymar 2018 Signature Boots to Be Inspired by 1998 Mercurial
Jul 12, 2017, by Pat
Nike will bring the famous design of the original 1998 Mercurial football boot next year. Set to be an exclusive signature edition for Brazilian superstar Neymar, the cleats will be launched in January, following up on this summer's initial Neymar Nike Mercurial signature boot.
Nike Mercurial Vapor XI Neymar Jr - Racer Blue / Black / Chrome / Volt
This image shows the original 1998 Nike Mercurial (via Unisport).
Nike launched the first Mercurial football boot in the buildup to the 1998 World Cup. It came in a silver-yellow-blue colorway that's now almost synonymous with the Mercurial and Ronaldo who wore it in France that summer.
In 2013, Nike released a 1998-inspired Mercurial Vapor IX, before last summer saw the launch of four different iD colorways based on those the 1998 boot was released in.
20 years on, Nike will bring back a Mercurial Superfly V and Vapor XI dedicated to the original and featuring a design and colorway that's more than just inspired by it.
Predominantly chrome, the 2018 Neymar boots come it with black brandings and 'Racer Blue' and 'Volt' details. Although based on the current Mercurial, the 2018 Nike Neymar boots will have a different upper structure that's closely inspired by the 'waves' found along the sides of the 1998 model.
The inside of the 2018 Nike Mercurial Superfly V and Vapor XI Neymar signature boots derives from the distinct print found on the Nike Mercurial Vapor VIII, a model worn by Neymar when he broke through at Santos in 2010.
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Set to be launched in January 2018, the Nike Mercurial Superfly V and Vapor XI Neymar Jr 2018 signature boots will be one of the last releases before the next generation of Nike's speed boot will inevitably drop.
Is Neymar "Il Fenômeno's" rightful heir? Are you happy to see Nike return to its roots with this one? Drop us a line below, and see the Boot Calendar for all leaks and releases in the boot world.
T90-Inspired Nike Barclays WSL 26-27 Ball Released
Nike and the Women's Super League have officially revealed the official match ball for the 26-27 Barclays WSL and WSL2 seasons. Built on Nike's Control ball model, the design draws heavy inspiration from Nike's iconic Total 90 era, bringing a retro-infused visual identity to top-tier English women's football.
The design features vibrant multi-coloured rings and graphic lines in red, pink, blue, and black against a white base. These accents are arranged to create a subtle strobe effect when spinning in flight, aiding visibility for players on the pitch. The Barclays WSL version features a gold Nike Swoosh inside the signature circular ring, while the WSL2 edition showcases a silver Swoosh paired with bright pink detailing.
Underneath the graphics, the ball utilizes Nike Control technology with debossed grooves and engineered paneling designed to deliver stable aerodynamics and consistent touch in all conditions. The new ball will be used across all 26-27 WSL, WSL2, and domestic cup matches.
FIFA Kit Creator Adds Dozens of New Old & 26-27 Kit Templates
FIFA Kit Creator has expanded their extensive template library with a large batch of brand-new jersey structures.
The latest update introduces base designs for the upcoming 26-27 season alongside classic retro cuts from iconic past eras. Creators matteuscm and KARAVASHKIN contributed heavily to this release, bringing fresh builds across major manufacturers including Adidas, Nike, Puma, Castore, Hummel, and Umbro. Among the modern additions are official base templates for upcoming club kits such as the Adidas 26-27 AS Roma and Tiro 27 cuts, the Nike 26-27 SC Freiburg template, Castore 26-27 Everton home layout, and new Puma designs for Palmeiras and Fluminense.
Updated national team templates for Ireland, Denmark, Indonesia, and DR Congo are also now available for creators to customize.
Beyond contemporary 26-27 cuts, the update adds several famous historical templates. Users can create concepts using nostalgic patterns like the Adidas 2004 Greece home template, the 05-06 AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen cuts, Nike 2010 and 2014 Brazil silhouettes, and Puma 2006 Italy away template.
All new template options are live and available on FIFA Kit Creator.
Outstanding CP Cacereño 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Spanish club CP Cacereño and new kit supplier Hummel have officially unveiled the team's new home and away kits for the 26-27 season. Marking the beginning of their technical partnership, Hummel has created two distinct custom designs heavily inspired by local culture and mythology.
The CP Cacereño 26-27 home kit features a rich green base dominated by an intricate graphic depicting dragon scales across the front panel. The design links directly to the club's release slogan, "No soy un futbolista, soy un dragón". White detailing is applied to the classic collar, sleeve cuffs, Hummel chevrons, and sponsor logos to complete the jersey.
The 26-27 away kit presents a half-and-half split layout featuring a white base paired with an orange front panel. The bottom portion of the shirt highlights a graphic illustration of the historic fortress walls of Cáceres alongside dragon tail motifs, finished with fine black detailing along the V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs.
Samsunspor 26-27 Home Kit Released
Turkish Süper Lig club Samsunspor has officially launched its new striped home kit for the 26-27 season, produced by Hummel.
The Hummel Samsunspor 26-27 home jersey features vertical red stripes over a white base, paired with plain white sleeves accented by red sleeve cuffs. A red polo collar with white edge piping and a red V-neck inset gives the shirt a classic look, while iconic white Hummel chevrons rest on the shoulders.
The reverse side of the shirt incorporates a white back panel for player names and numbers, framed by red stripe details at the top and bottom hem, along with red Samsunspor lettering printed on the upper back. The kit is now officially available for pre-order.