Strapless Nike Mercurial Gloves Sold for $20 - Have They Taken Off AT ALL?
A few days ago, the excellent @the_mad_cleater account on Instagram shared a very interesting image. It shows two pairs of Nike's high-end Mercurial Touch goalkeeper gloves, which have a RRP of $150, being sold at an outlet for a measly $20. It's not strange to see heavy discounts at such places, but a near 90% discount is pretty unique to say the least.
The strapless gloves, the first of their kind from Nike, have generated controversy ever since they debuted last year. And this new picture seems to prove what everybody had been suspecting: they aren't selling well in the slightest.
Besides the incredibly steep price point, the main issue people had with the Mercurial Touch gloves early was the fact that they had durability issues. Back in June 2018, a picture shared by Alberto Ruiz showed one of the gloves that seemingly tore apart very easily and probably damaged its dubious reputation beyond repair. Another big problem is that Nike's signed goalkeeper aren't wearing the strapless gloves but instead all opted for more conservative options from the Nike Goalkeeping lineup, such as Vapor Grip or Premier SGT.
Even after all that, Nike are not ready to give up on the concept just yet. The new, second generation of the Mercurial Touch goalkeeper gloves will be launched this summer, and Nike will be hoping that they will have more of an actual impact this time.
Do you think there's any chance for the Nike Mercurial Touch strapless gloves to gain a more prominent spot on the market? Comment below.
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.
