Mercurial Mk1 - The Original R9
They're the most recognisable football boots in modern history that come with quite a story. Make no mistake about it, the Nike Mercurial R9 set the precedent for lightweight boot design, sighting a new direction for modern speed boots. The original Ronaldo, the original Nike Mercurial R9.
The release of the limited edition Nike Mercurial Vapor XV got us digging through our archives for El Fenomeno's original Nike Mercurial R9 boots from 1998. Few football boots were launched in such style as the Mercurial R9 and even fewer boots have had such influence on the game. 
After picking up back to back World Player of the Year awards, Ronaldo arrived at the World Cup in France with football boots that were to change the boot industry forever. The Mercurial R9 was designed with a synthetic material on the upper of the boot to reduce weight and deliver optimum speed.
A new generation of football boot was born, creating a legacy of lightweight footwear that shifted the emphasis in boot design and continues to shape the industry to this day. 
Nike hooked up their global icon in a signature boot like no other for the '98 World Cup, a boot so visually and technologically advanced that it quite simply revolutionised football boots. The Mercurial R9 propelled El Fenomeno's status to new levels and to many, Ronaldo was one of the first real marketing superstars in the game. 
Technology wise the Nike Mercurial R9 was the first boot to be created using entirely synthetic materials and the blue waves on the R9 were designed to improve ball control, using a sticky coated substance, which in theory would aid first touch and swerve.
Ronaldo and the Nike Mercurial R9 left a legacy on the game which can be seen on every pitch in every game worldwide today. Since the 1998 World Cup lightweight boots have constantly been in demand with brands going to new levels to reduce weight and create visually appealing footwear in search of the same dramatic affect as the Mercurial R9.
The R9 set numerous trends for football boots to follow, from new technologies to unique and eccentric designs. Let us know what you think of the boots! Join the conversation online, on Twitter and on Facebook.
