With whispers swirling of a Hypervenom revival, we’re rewinding the clock to revisit the players who turned the boot into a cult classic—just over a decade since it first hit the pitch.
When Nike dropped the Hypervenom Phantom I back in 2013, it wasn’t just launching a new boot—it was ripping up the rulebook. With the curtain falling on the iconic T90 series, there was a gaping hole in the game. One that wasn’t just about boots—it was about identity, energy, and edge. The Hypervenom wasn’t here to quietly fill that space. It was here to redefine it.
Enter Neymar Jr. The Brazilian prodigy, fresh off his move to FC Barcelona, was tapped as the face of the silo. Electrifying on the ball and impossible to ignore, he was the perfect embodiment of the boot’s ethos: unpredictable, fearless, pure flair. Nike called it “a new breed of attack”—and with Neymar leading the line, that mission had serious teeth.
Neymar Jr.
Wayne Rooney
The Hypervenom Phantom I was Nike’s first true foray into agility-focused design, carving out a new lane alongside the brand’s power, speed, control, and comfort categories. The upper was sculpted from NikeSkin—a fusion of mesh and polyurethane that delivered an ultra-thin, barefoot-like touch. Soft, flexible, and light, it wrapped around the foot like a second skin. Add in the now-ubiquitous All Conditions Control (ACC) tech, and you had a boot prepped for performance in any weather, every surface, all situations.
Robert Lewandowski
Gonzalo Higuain
Visually, the Hypervenom was a curveball. Its launch “Black/Citrus” colourway popped off the pitch, while a reversed Swoosh on the heel and a grinning skull motif gave it a rebellious edge. It wasn’t about heritage—it was about hustle. This was anti-ordinary. It spoke to the young ballers who didn’t want to play it safe. They wanted to stand out, shake defenders, and own the spotlight.
Isco
Mauro Icardi
And it wasn’t just Neymar. A roll call of elite attacking talent laced up in the Phantom I. Zlatan. Rooney. Isco. Icardi. Lewandowski. Higuain. Sturridge. Adriano. Even a young Harry Kane. The boot quickly became the weapon of choice for those looking to wreak havoc in the final third.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Adriano Correia
Over time, the Phantom I saw 19 colourways, many of them flipping the script with inverted palettes and bolder visuals that matched the silo’s unapologetic swagger. From the pitch to the pavement, the Hypervenom wasn’t just a football boot—it was a statement. A signal that the new era had arrived.
Daniel Sturridge
Harry Kane
Watch this space for any official news on the Hypervenom's return...
