Fit is the foundation of fast. We all know that if the fit of your football boot isn't right, speed can be compromised. For this reason, the new Mercurial focuses on providing the best fit of all time.

Both the new Mercurial Superfly and Vapor 360 wrap your whole foot in Nike Flyknit.

Max Blau, VP of Nike Football Footwear explained, "This new innovation hugs the foot and eliminates the gaps between the foot and the solplate. In fact, it eliminates the soleplate altogehter." 

According to Nike, traction on the Mercurial 360 is less like a hoof and more like a claw. 

Traction is provided by precisely placed studs in the forefoot and heel. Nike Football's Senior Design Director, Jeongwoo Lee, drew inspiration from agile cheetahs and focused on traction at speed, leading to the minimalist approach he affectionately refers to as the cheetah paw. 

“The aggressive forefoot is built for acceleration in any direction while the heel studs help the player stop on a dime,” notes Lee.

Cristiano Ronaldo embraced the Mercurial Superfly 360 right away. “My first reaction when I saw the new Mercurial was...the best boots ever! They fit straight away. The material, the design, the new technology, it’s amazing,” he says.

The plush feel of the Mercurial 360 can also be attributed to advancements in Nike All Conditions Control (ACC). Previously, ACC was applied on top of the finished Flyknit product, creating a thin layer.

Now, ACC is embedded into the yarns prior to knitting, eliminating the additional skin without compromising the performance benefit. The result is a matte finish on a texturized upper that is softer to the touch but can still battle the elements.

For its 20th anniversary, the Mercurial adopts a clean aesthetic with a small forefoot Swoosh and a bold “M” on the heel. “Mercurial players tend to be very fast, so that “M” is the last thing defenders will see when a Mercurial player blows by them,” says Lee.

For 20 years, Nike has deisnged Mercurial boots for the fastest players in the game, featuring experimental and game-changing innovations.

Nike's all new Mercurial Superfly 360 and Vapor 360 will debut on pitch this weekend and will be available from February 14 at nike.com.