Creative Soccer Culture

Nike Unleash The Air Zoom Mercurial 'Cosmic Speed'

Building a new chapter of fast in football, Nike reveal the Air Zoom Mercurial ‘Cosmic Speed’, which sees an iridescent gold and black presentation for the Vapor XVI and Superfly X.

Nike has an inextricable link with speed in the beautiful game, and it’s always been exemplified by the Mercurial line. Now, following in the footsteps of the Dream Speed series, we get what is likely to be the first instalment in an all-new speed-centric line. This here is the Air Zoom Mercurial ‘Cosmic Speed’, and it’s set to be worn by some of the fastest and most dangerous attackers in the game, including Vini Jr., Lauren James, Salma Paralluelo, Ada Hegerberg and Sam Kerr. Wouldn’t be a surprise to see Kylian Mbappé rocking them at some point as well…

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The Cosmic Speed series gets underway with what, on paper, is a pretty straightforward colourway of “Gold/Black”. But that isn’t even scratching the surface of what’s going on here. The aesthetics of the new look Air Zoom Mercurial Vapor XVI and Superfly X are a rich tapestry of design influence from the Mercurial’s past. Graphics play out across that shimmering upper, and the whole look literally feels like it changes in front of your eyes depending on the angle you’re looking at it from. Black and gold is one thing, but these boots look like they shine with almost every colour going, from the chromed out soleplate right across that unique upper; the spectrum of colours acting like a visual treat for the eyes. It’s achieved through a process called PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition). Its a vacuum style method of applying thin metal colourways to fabric, and man is it effective.

There’s nothing new here from a tech-perspective, and Cosmic Speed, like Dream Speed before it, is once again a celebration of speed and the fastest players in the game.

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UPDATE:

Vinicius Jr. has become one of the first players to debut the new 'Cosmic Speed' Air Zoom Mercurial Vapor XVI, wearing them under the lights of the Santiago Bernabeu in Real Madrid's opening 24/25 Champions League group stage game against Stuttgart, a game the reigning champions won 3-1.

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Shop the Nike Mercurial 'Cosmic Speed' at prodirectsport.com/soccer

Author
Daniel Jones

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