Nike Mercurial Collection - Vapor Superfly II
They came, they scored, they conquered. The Nike Superfly II range has left its mark on the world of football boots. As we prepare for the upcoming Nike Superfly III release, we take a look back at a revolutionary collection that has set football pitches alight over the past year.
United by an array of audacious colour-ways, the Nike Superfly II football boots remain the 'superstar's of the boot world. The giant swoosh continues to be worn by some of the biggest names in the sport including Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, Pedro, Ibrahimovic, Pato and Didier Drogba. 
The Superfly II boots made their intentions known straight from their heavily publicised elaborate launch at Battersea Power Station in London. Released as the successor to Nike's most revolutionary football boot - the Nike Superfly I - the SF II aimed to take technological advancements in boots to a whole new level with the introduction of the new NIKE SENSE adaptive traction technology. 
Over a year on and Nike have released seven colour-ways of the SF II (eight if you include the Obsidian US Exclusive). Each new colour has sparked debate among boot fans like no other boot is capable of. The most popular of all arguably being the latest Windchill release that accumulated around 5,500 FaceBook 'likes' on SoccerBible! 
Since their introduction to the world of football back in February 2010, the Nike SF II football boots have been at the centre of a rising tide of speed boots. Their on-pitch dominance that was once unrivalled has taken a hit with the growing crowd of adiZero wearers. With some boot fans hoping the SF III might resemble something closer to the adiZero, we suspect Nike will resist any urge to change what is still a winning formula. 
Since Clint Dempsey scored their first competitive goal wearing them during Fulham's extraordinary Europa League game against Juventus, the SF II boots have played their part in some of the years biggest footballing events. They were the headline boot of Nike's World Cup Elite collection that went on to dominate the tournament. 
When you see all of the boots together you realise how unique the SF II is. From the reflective carbon fibre sole-plate to the fly-wire upper, the Nike Superfly II boots are unlike anything else on the market. They may not be the lightest, but they have a certain 'cool-factor' that continues to make them one of the most popular boots around. 
Much like the Superfly's lead player, the SFII boots have become a love/hate boot. With the colour-ways Nike have designed, it's no surprise that they always spark debate. Whether it is good or bad, everyone has an opinion on the SF II. They continue to have a huge army of SF fans that remain loyal to the boot, but as new speed-boots have entered the market the SF range has come under some pressure. 
Because the Superfly boots are so different to anything else, they have almost created their own sub-category. They no longer compete on the scales with the likes of the adiZero but instead pride themselves in being so extravagantly over the top. It is this that makes them impossible to ignore. 
Cristiano Ronaldo has helped propel the Superfly II boots into a globally recognised soccer shoe. Nike have mirrored Ronaldo's on-field personality and flair to his boots. The CR7 Safari SF II boots are still one of the most unique boots we have ever seen. Such a unique football boot could only be worn by a player of Ronaldo's stature. It is the stand-out boot of the whole range and has set a new precedent for signature boot design.
The boots have been at the centre of the Ronaldo vs Messi story that continues to be one of the most talked about topics in football! It's an added bonus for boot fans that the greatest individual rivalry in football has an added spice to it with both players wearing rival speed boots!
As we prepare for the hugely anticipated launch of the Nike Superfly III football boots, we'd love to hear your final thoughts on the Superfly II range.
Do you think they have been a success and what do you hope the next instalment of the worlds most famous football boot will bring?
