The changing of the guard. The changing of a generation. A Brazilian baton of bespoke flair is passed on to Neymar as Nike serve up a signature Mercurial Puro Fenomeno – a boot inspired by the design worn by Ronaldo almost twenty years ago.
The R9 influence in Neymar's career began with the Nike Mercurial, in Neymar's words: "Those were the boots everybody wanted, I wanted them too." And now he's been given the opportunity to carry Ronaldo's legacy into a new era, whilst throwing his own magic into the mix twenty years on.
When Neymar made his debut for the Brasil National Team (at 18 years of age), he was wearing the Mercurial Superfly II. Befitting the connection both Brasilians have to the Mercurial line, Nike’s new Mercurial Puro Fenomeno boots borrow aesthetic cues from the Superfly II while also paying homage to Ronaldo’s original Mercurial boots.
The lateral side of the Nike Mercurial Puro Fenomeno features the iconic chrome and blue color scheme of the ’98 Mercurial, with the speed ribs of the current Mercurial altered to mimic the original’s wavy lines. The medial side of the boot features the bold graphic of the Mercurial Superfly II that Neymar Jr. wore as he burst onto the international stage. “Ousadia” and “Alegria” also appear on the medial side of the boots, along with Neymar Jr.’s personal logo emblazoned on the heels.
Unsurprisingly, the Puro Fenomeno will be released in limited numbers and will be worn exclusively by the PSG striker.
“The partnership between Neymar and Mercurial is perfect. He has this characteristic in his game, he’s very fast, can abruptly change direction," says Ronaldo. “I feel a connection with Neymar. He’s a sensational young man, very balanced, focused, already following a great path. I believe the most important thing is to never ever lose the focus on being happy playing football; that’s how he makes many more people happy — watching him play."
The respect is mutual. “He is one of my idols. Ronaldo is one of the greatest and most iconic players in history. I’m really happy and honored to have played with him on the Brasilian National Team,” adds Neymar Jr. Aww... lovely stuff chaps.
Above: The Nike Mercurial Puro Fenomeno with the boots that inspired the design; the Mercurial Superfly II & Mercurial R9.
Pick up the Nike Mercurial Puro Fenomeno from prodirectsoccer.com
