The Full 25 Year History of the Nike Mercurial
Nike have just launched their 25th year anniversary editions of the Mercurials, and Capo Football have put together a fantastic graphic showing the boot's evolution since it's inception.
Full History of the Nike Mercurial
The special 25th anniversary Mercurial boots launched by Nike this week celebrate 25 years of one of the most popular boot silos from any brand. They've undergone many changes in that time, and the special editions are the 18th different iteration of the Mercurial since it was launched in 1998. Korean store Capo Football created the brilliant graphic shown at the top of this article, giving a great overview of the the aesthetic changes from one model to the next. Check it out in more detail in the three slides below.
Everyone will have their own opinion on which Mercurials were the best ones. From Footy Headlines' point of view, the first five editions were very solid, particularly the 2002 and 2004 models, with Ronaldo, Adriano and Thierry Henry certainly playing their part in how fondly those Vapors are remembered by football fans of that era.
The designs from 2008 to 2016 didn't have quite the same appeal as their predecessors, mainly down to the Swoosh's enlargement and relocation to the forefoot, as well as the rather bulky lace cover that was present at the beginning of that period. From 2018 onwards however, Nike hit their stride again and put out a lot of interesting colourways, designs and textures. You can see some of our picks of the best Mercurials below.
Have you ever owned a pair of Nike Mercurials? Which model of the last 25 years is your favourite? Let us know in the comments.
Vintage Football Shirts
from Cult Kits
2011/12 New York Cosmos *BNWT* Fleece Baseball Jacket (Multiple Sizes) Umbro
2015/16 Internacional 1/4 Zip Fleece Top (XL.Kids) Adidas
Biggie Metro Stars A3 Print
1998 Dreamers Drill Top 'England' (Multiple Sizes) Cult
2004/05 Puma *BNWT* Template Shirt (S)
2019/20 PSG GK Shirt (S) Nike
2001 Real Madrid Zidane #5 Third Shirt (L) Adidas
2010/11 Denmark *Player Issue* GK Shirt (XL) Adidas
2007/08 Thonon Évian Grand Geneve F.C. #9 L/S Home Shirt (XL) Adidas
2016/17 Barcelona Messi #10 Third Shirt (L) Nike
MLS Players Wear Their National Flags on Kits Ahead of 2026 World Cup
Major League Soccer last weekend hosted a dedicated "Farewell Week" to send off its international stars. To mark the occasion, all clubs across the domestic league took to the pitch wearing specially customized kits that honored the various nations represented within their squads.
The most prominent visual update to the MLS uniforms was the addition of official national flags printed directly on the chest for all players and coaching staff. In a highly thoughtful and personalized touch, the league provided specialized double-flag variations for athletes holding dual citizenship. This bespoke detail allowed these specific players to proudly represent both their current homelands and their heritage simultaneously before joining their respective national team camps.
Beyond the chest graphics, teams also sported a unique set of squad numbers on the back of their shirts, featuring a custom pattern made up of the flags of all 48 countries participating in this summer's World Cup.
What do you think of this customized flag concept for the MLS World Cup Farewell Week? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
