Cristiano Ronaldo's Football Boots - Nike Mercurial
With the official reveal of his signature line only hours away, the SoccerBible takes a retrospective look at the football boots of the Mercurial Cristiano Ronaldo.
Nike's pinnacle speed series has evolved and changed a lot in the eight seasons that the Portugese star has been making headlines on and off the pitch. Check out our favourites and iconic football boots...
Jump to a season: 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010
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Nike Mercurial Chrome (2002/03) |
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Legend has it that the young Portugese star caught the attention of Sir Alex Ferguson as Sporting beat Man Utd 3-1 at the opening of their new stadium in Lisbon. Ronaldo sported these retro Mercurial Chrome boots in that famous win, effectively sealing his move to Old Trafford. |
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Nike Mercurial Vapor Chrome (2003/04) |
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Donning the iconic #7 jersey for the Red Devils, Ronaldo continued to bring his mercurial skills to the top flight. Still sporting the Nike Mercurial Chrome boots, Ronaldo went on to score Utd's 1000th Premier League goal and finished the season in double figures. |
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Nike Mercurial Vapor Gold (2004) |
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The European Championships on home turf gave the mercrurial talent the platform to shine, but the final hurdle was a step too far for the Portugese team. Ronaldo kept the faith with the Mercurial series, sporting these Gold releases from the R9 series of his Brazilian namesake. CR7 also wore these gold boots in the FA Cup Final win over Millwall. |
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Nike Mercurial Vapor II White/Red (2004/05) |
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Unlike his recent exploits, Ronaldo remained in the same boots for nearly a whole season at a time. Notable exceptions included this rare outing in the Nike Mercurial Vapor II White/Red boots, as Cristiano tended to prefer the White/Black throughout 2004 early 2005. |
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Nike Mercurial Vapor III Charcoal (2005/06) |
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Ronaldo took a while to change up to the MVIII boots (one of SoccerBible's All Time Favourite Boots). But once he did he was the epitome of consistency, sporting these Charcoal/Gold Nike Mercurial Vapor III football boots in rotation with the White/Silver versions. |
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Nike Mercurial Vapor III Sport Red (2006) |
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These sport red Mercurial Vapor III boots were worn only a few times by the Portugese star, but as Nike started to ramp up their colour releases, the temptation to change boots must have increased! The World Cup in Germany saw Ronaldo sport these Red and the Charcoal colourways. |
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Nike Mercurial Vapor III White (2006/07) |
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Arguably the most successful for Ronaldo's in the Vapor III series, these White/Black releases dominated the Portugese star's boot choice for many months throughout 2006 and into 2007 - putting United firmly on their way to a 1st league title in four years. |
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Nike Mercurial Vapor III Platinum (2007) |
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The Mercurial colours kept on coming! These Ronaldo sported these Platinum/Red/Black Vapor III boots at the beginning of the 2007/08 Premier League season, although the Portugese star would probably wish to forget this season's start as he began with a three match ban. |
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Nike Mercurial Vapor III Argon Blue (2007) |
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One of the last Mercurial Vapor 3 colourways, but the Argon Blue boots seemed to give Ronaldo added powers as he dominated the Premier League in the run up to Xmas - perhaps most memorable for a strike against his old club Sporting in the Champions League. |
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Nike Mercurial Vapor IV Orange Peel (2008) |
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This is where CR7 and Nike Mercurial went to a whole new level. Debuting the bright Orange Peel Vapor IV, Ronaldo scored his first hat-trick for United in a 6-0 thrashing of Newcastle, and prompted mass demand for these iconic football boots. Within a matter of weeks, it seemed like every player was wearing the Orange Mercurials, such was the impact of that game, |
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Nike Mercurial Vapor IV Sport Red (2008) |
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It wasn't long before Ronaldo made the switch to the Sport Red and Gold colour release of the Vapor IV (despite being the lead icon for the premium Mercurial Vapor SL series). Ronaldo and United were heading for Premier League and Champions League destiny, with the Portugese star hitting 35 goals in 37 domestic and European matches in the Mercurials. |
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Nike Mercurial SL (2008) |
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The limited of limited releases, Ronaldo took to the Champions League final wearing the Nike Mercurial SL football boots, essentially Nike's first "concept boot". A towering header and penalty shoot out later and Ronaldo had helped United to their 3rd European Cup. |
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Nike Mercurial Vapor IV Pine Green (2008) |
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Ronaldo's star had never been higher at this point, so Nike continued to thrust the Portugese star into the limelight. An exclusive colourway of the Vapor IV boots - the Pine Green - was given to Ronaldo for the European Championships. Despite the potential and promise the last Euro Championships had delivered, Portugal fell short again this time succumbing to Germany in the Quarter Finals |
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Nike Mercurial Vapor IV Marina/Volt (2008) |
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Back to domestic duty and the next release in the hugely popular Mercurial Vapor IV series was this Marina-Volt colour, scoring his 100th Manchester United goal in the boots. |
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Nike Mercurial Vapor IV Citron (2008/09) |
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Rattling through the Vapor IV colourways included the popular Citron release, however Ronaldo still insisted on choosing the Vapor over the Vapor SL carbon-soled versions. Can't have done him any harm as he helped United to the World Club Championship and the League Cup... |
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Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly Max Orange (2009) |
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The most hyped and talked about football boots so far, Ronaldo debuted the Superfly against Inter Milan in the Champions League. Now even more elusive thanks to a complicated release then withdrawal from sale, Ronaldo rose above the drama to keep hitting the net for United and making the headlines in the Max Orange Superfly boots |
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Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly Black (2009) |
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Some superb positioning by the Nike team as Cristiano Ronaldo was presented to the adoring Madrid fans, after his mammoth transfer to the Spanish capital. The Black Pack Mercurial Vapor Superfly was Ronaldo's weapon of choice as he began his La Liga career. |
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Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly Orion Blue (2009) |
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Ronaldo held off for a while before changing to the .Orion Blue Superfly II boots, but once he was in the latest Nike Mercurial Superfly II release there was no stopping the Madrid star as he made the Bernabeu his own stage. |
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Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly Yellow (2009/10) |
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Big news when Ronaldo switched to the Yellow Superfly - as well as some controversy over the sole plate the Madrid star sported, which differed from the retail firm ground plate. Oh, to be a professional footballer... |
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Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly II Violet (2010) |
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Nike went even bigger and bolder for the release of the Superfly II football boots, dominating the London skyline with a star studded launch at Battersea Powerstation. On the pitch, their lead man seemed at first reluctant to make the switch to the Violet Pop boots, which must have caused concern for the Nike head honchos! |
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Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly II WC (2010) |
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Unlike Euro 2008, Ronaldo was not quite an individual rather amongst a sea of Orange and Silver as Nike unleashed the World Cup Football Boots. Not even the subject of debate, Ronaldo's Nike Superfly II Elite boots sported his custom mixed sole plate for the South Africa turf. |
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Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly II Cactus (2010) |
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Keeping up with the trends can be an occupational hazard, however Ronaldo switched to the Bright Cactus versions of the Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly II football boots not long after their release at the beginning of the season. Of course, complete with customary mixed sole plate option. |
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Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly II Cherry (2010) |
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The current flavour of choice for Real's Portugal star, the Mercurial Vapor Superfly II Voltage Cherry saw CR7 hit a stunning 4 goals in his latest match showing that no matter what colour on his feet, the mercurial talents of Cristiano Ronaldo shine through! |
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Of course, there are many other colours and editions we could have chosen but we're sure you'll agree this selection is certainly fitting of one of the modern game's great players.
Stay tuned to the SoccerBible for the official reveal of the Nike CR7 Safari collection and some brand new news you won't find anywhere else!