Aubameyang, Mbappe, Hazard & More: Nike Players Wear Next-Gen Mercurial Superfly 7 and Vapor 13 Boots
Update: Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was spotted with a blackout prototype of the next-generation Nike Mercurial Superfly VII soccer cleats in training. Arsenal's season is not over yet as they will face Chelsea in the Europa League final - Aubameyang will wear the current-gen Mercurials in that match, however.
Update: Kylian Mbappe has become the latest player to wear the next-generation Nike Mercurial Superfly 7 football boot in training.
Kylian Mbappe Trains in Next-Gen Nike Mercurial Superfly 7 2019-2020 Boots
With the launch of the next generation of the Mercurial (Superfly 7 and Vapor 13) coming up this summer, Nike have sent out blackout pairs of the two boots to some of their most important players. The likes of Eden Hazard and Radja Nainggolan were spotted wearing them for training this week.
With less time between the two generations than Nike's usual two years, it's difficult to make out an awful lot of changes compared to Superfly 6 and Vapor 12, respectively.
What's interesting is that Marcelo Brozovic's Vapor 13 boots come without any laces - however looking Nainggolan's, who's also sporting the Vapor, it appears he just removed them himself. As per our knowledge, Nike are not planning to release a laceless Mercurial this year.
Other than that, the boots appear to be roughly the same as the current generation, with a one-piece Flyknit upper and collars of different heights for the two sub-models. It looks like the split sole plate design is here to stay as well. A structure of 3-D lines goes across the boot length-wise.
What do you think of this blackout look at the next-gen Mercurials? Have we missed something? Comment below.
FC Tiamo Hirakata 26-27 Home Kit Released
Japanese Football League side FC Tiamo Hirakata has officially unveiled their new 2026-27 home kit, produced by sportswear brand Jogarbola. The release introduces a cracking design under the club's Reborn campaign for the upcoming JFL season, symbolizing a new beginning for the club.
Brighton to Wear 125th Anniversary Kit Against Arsenal
Brighton & Hove Albion have confirmed they will wear their limited-edition Nike 125th anniversary kit during their 2026-27 match against Arsenal in September 2026. The special shirt, which was initially released in May 2026 and draws inspiration from the club's original 1901 kit, will be showcased on the pitch to celebrate the club's founding milestone. Although the official anniversary falls on June 24, the commemorative fixture against the Gunners has been selected as the dedicated anniversary match where the team will debut the historic design.
Nike Creates Personalized Mercurial 2026 World Cup Boots for Kylian Mbappé's France Goalscoring Record
Kylian Mbappé has officially cemented his legacy as the greatest goalscorer in the history of the French national team, surpassing Olivier Giroud to take the top spot. To celebrate this historic milestone of reaching 58 international goals, Nike has presented the star forward with a personalized pair of Mercurial Superfly 11 boots. This special edition footwear arrives just in time as Mbappé prepares to make his 100th appearance for Les Bleus.
The custom Nike Mercurial Superfly 11 Mbappé 2026 World Cup boots features a distinct "58" lightly printed on the lateral side of the heel, representing his record-breaking goal tally. Additionally, a small French tricolor flag is prominently positioned near the heel collar, paying direct homage to his national team.
