Nike Football Presents: Mercurial Superfly V

As we head into summer and some huge international tournaments, Nike Soccer unveils the Spark Brilliance Pack, which marks the debut of the new Mercurial Superfly V. The boot, originally previewed at Nike’s Innovation 2016 event, was built as a total speed system and features a new plate mapped to the natural contours of the foot.

Nike Football Design Lead Jeongwoo Lee stated that:

Our approach with the new Mercurial was to challenge all assumptions about speed, merging science with design to build the fastest boot in football. We designed this boot holistically to ensure it was a true speed system, where all of the materials interlock to produce the most efficient package possible.

The new Mercurial’s anatomical plate is aligned with the natural contours of the foot, eliminating the gap that previously existed underfoot. Additionally, the boot’s soleplate is 40% lighter than the carbon fiber plate it replaces, yet it is stronger and more responsive. The traction system of the Mercurial has also been revamped for speed.

Nike’s design team tested different variations of cleats, blades, chevrons and other shapes in a variety of traction patterns. For the first time, Nike Football leveraged virtual Finite Element Analysis (FEA) testing, which provided scientific data to identify which traction pattern works best for the speed-focused player, inclusive of linear sprints.

The player synonymous with Mercurial, Cristiano Ronaldo, will be one of the first players you will see in the new boot. He describes the new plate and traction configuration, by stating that:

It’s like my attitude. I’m a straightforward and aggressive player. The stud shape reminds me of my character and performs very well on the pitch.

The new Mercurial will be available beginning May 28 via the Nike Football App, and it will hit soccer.com on May 31st.