French sensation Kylian Mbappé stands out as a true icon in the footballing world. The 25-year-old star, currently showcasing his brilliance with Paris Saint-Germain and the French national team, has taken a significant step towards global dominance by collaborating with Nike to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the iconic Air Max Plus. This collaboration has given birth to one of the most talked about boots, the Nike Mercurial TN, inspired by the classic Nike TN, a UK and Parisian favourite silhouette.
Infusing the iconic Air Max design with Nike’s cutting-edge footballing technology for optimal performance on the pitch. The boot features Sean Mcdowell’s renowned gradient design, paying homage to the classic European sneaker. The purple, black, and white Vaporposite+ uppers are not only visually striking but also durable, ensuring resilience during intense on-pitch action. Catering to Mbappe’s agile and lightning fast paced style of play, the boots incorporates Zoom Air technology. This advanced technology, combined with a foot-hugging shell, provides supreme grip and responsiveness on the pitch. The traditional rubber cages embrace the Vaporposite+ uppers, creating a perfect blend of style and functionality. The bold orange medial Swooshes add a touch of flair to the overall design, while tonal flat laces and Hexagonal tongue badges contribute to the boot's Euro flair aesthetic.
We are hoping this is the start of a new wave of sneaker inspired football boots. The scene has already been extremely popular in American sports and Golf. For example Von Miller brought out custom “White Metallic” ASICS Gel-1130-inspired cleats last weekend in the NFL. Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram was spotted wearing a Vapor version of Mbappe’s boots, signalling from Nike that this may not just be a once off thing with one specific player. Back in 2017 however Nike did release a series of boots for Air Max Day including a lucrative pair of Air Max 97 “silver bullet” Mercurials and then the canvas for sneaker inspired boots fell in the river until now.
It must be said that Kylian Mbappé's involvement in this collaboration adds a personal touch to the design, reflecting his style and passion for the game. The boots not only pays homage to a classic sneaker but also pushes the boundaries of technology and design in the football world. As Mbappé continues to make strides on the pitch, his influence off the field is equally profound, leaving an indelible mark on the world of sports and style.
