Nike Mercurial Superfly 8

The Nike Mercurial is one of the most iconic football boot franchises in the world — worn by the greatest players of all time and recognized as the benchmark for speed, precision, and innovation. As Lead Designer, I was responsible for shaping the next generation of this legacy with the Superfly 8 and Vapor 14.

My focus was on four core pillars: fit, touch, traction, and style. The seamless upper was engineered for a glove-like fit, while advanced touch materials delivered precise ball control at high speeds. A reimagined soleplate introduced secondary “speed grooves” for improved traction and explosive acceleration. The lightweight, bold aesthetic reinforced the Mercurial’s identity as a boot built purely for speed.

Leading this project meant working at the heart of Nike’s Global Football design team — aligning innovation, engineering, athlete insights, brand and marketing to create a product that not only advanced performance but also upheld the Mercurial’s place as the most celebrated football boot in the game.