2 Next-Gen Nike Mercurial 2018 Takedown Launch Boots Leaked
The release of the next-generation Nike Mercurial 2018 soccer shoe is only weeks away. Now the first official pictures of the launch paint jobs of the next-generation Nike Mercurial football boots have been leaked.
The Nike Mercurial 2018 soccer shoe will be launched in two colorways (orange / black, black / orange). All players sponsored by Nike will either wear the orange or black colorway - Neymar is one of the players who will wear the orange paint job, while his teammate Mbappe will wear the alternative black / orange edition.
Nike Mercurial Vapor XII Academy Junior (Takedown Mercurial Model)
The design of the next-generation Nike Mercurial 2018 football boots is all about speed. The Nike Mercurial 2018 soccer cleat comes with unique 'speed graphic' Swooshes on the instep and the upper. The Mercurial logo with the silo's trademark slogan 'Engineered for Speed' is printed on the heel area.
However, as the shoes are a takedown model, the visual design is not exactly the same as the one of the Nike Mercurial Superfly.
Tech-wise, these takedown Nike Mercurial soccer cleats have actually nothing in common with cutting-edge, high-end Nike Mercurial cleats. Officially called Nike Mercurial Vapor XII Academy Junior, these shoes feature a standard tongue and a synthetic upper. They are the second-worst (third-best) model of the next-generation Nike Mercurial boots (the previous generation of that model was called Nike Mercurial Victory VI). Check out all updated Nike soccer cleat names for 2018 in our special article.
FInd out all about the tech features of the high-end next-generation Nike Mercurial Vapor XII / Nike Mercurial Superfly VI cleats.
| Current | New | Price (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Mercurial Vapor XI | Mercurial Vapor XII Elite | 250 EUR |
| Mercurial Veloce III | Mercurial Vapor XII Pro | 150 EUR |
| Mercurial Victory VI | Mercurial Vapor XII Academy | 80 EUR |
| Mercurial Vortex III | Mercurial Vapor XII Club | 60 EUR |
The next-generation Nike Mercurial 2018 football boot is expected to be hit stores in late February 2018.
What do you think of the two launch colorways of the next-generation Nike Mercurial football boots? Let us know in the comments below and see all Nike Mercurial soccer cleat leaks in the Boot Calendar.
FC Barcelona 26-27 Home Kit Spotted on Sale Ahead of Official Launch
The FC Barcelona 26-27 home kit has been spotted on sale well before its official presentation. The new Nike jersey is currently available for purchase at JD Sports in Thailand, both in physical retail stores and online.
The early availability appears to be happening in multiple regions, with reports from fans mentioning sightings in stores across the United States.
Schlotterbeck Deliberately Wears His Football Socks the Wrong Way Round
Borussia Dortmund and Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck has a very specific habit regarding his matchday attire. The centre-back deliberately wears his football socks the wrong way round - the back is on the front, and the front is on the back.
In 2025, the Borussia Dortmund & Germany center back once told SPORT1 that this was one of his unique habits.
Urawa Red Diamonds 26-27 Home Kit Teased - Launch Next Week
Japanese J1 League club Urawa Red Diamonds have officially teased their new 26-27 kit. The club announced through their official social media channels that the full details and design of the new uniform will be revealed on June 26, 2026.
The teaser image released by the club gives very little away regarding the actual design of the shirt, but it confirms the continuation of their long-standing partnership with American sportswear brand Nike.
A Look Back at World Cup Shirt Number Typography
Football kit design account @PaladarNegroWeb has shared an interesting retrospective on the typography used for shirt numbers in recent World Cups. The visual language of football kits is often defined by these details, with fonts becoming instantly recognizable symbols of specific tournaments and eras.
The collage highlights various iconic typefaces worn by national teams on the biggest stage. spanning from the 2006 World Cup to the FIFA World Cup.
This overview is part of an ongoing series by the account exploring the visual elements of football. It serves as a great reminder of how deeply typography impacts the overall aesthetic and legacy of a football shirt.
