Nike on Monday unveiled the Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II, currently the lightest Nike football boot and the first to feature an adaptive traction system for explosive acceleration in all directions and conditions.
Cristiano Ronaldo was at the launch event in London to give his comments on the new boot and the importance of speed, as well as his thoughts on Portugal's chances at the upcoming World Cup 2010 and Real Madrid's Champions League Game.
"For me, it's all about first-step acceleration, but twisting and turning around a defender is also important," Cristiano Ronaldo said.
"The Mercurial Vapor Superfly II helps me do both, so I can beat my opponent and create scoring opportunities."
In designing a boot for the fastest footballers in the world, Nike's design and engineering teams talked with players who emphasized that acceleration around a defender is just as important as beating him in a straight line.
"Our goal with the Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II was to design, engineer and build the fastest, best-fitting boot on the planet," said Nike Football Design Director Andrew Caine.
"We focused on enhancing the boot's traction and fit, and we chose a striking color to match the unique style of the players who will wear it."
Access to the elite through Nike Football+ Master Speed The Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II gives consumers digital access to the training insights of the world's top players, teams and coaches through Nike Football+.
Each pair of boots comes with a unique user code that can be used to access exclusive Nike Football+ Master Speed training content on NikeFootball.com.
Footballers can, for example, test their speed against Cristiano Ronaldo in an interactive speed test.
The Nike Football + Master Speed program will provide exclusive access to Brazil national team stars Robinho, Fabiano and Nilmar, putting the power of speed directly into footballers' hands and their game day preparation.
As part of the Mercurial launch "Inside the Elite," a new series of videos, also gives consumers exclusive inside access to their favorite players. In each segment, athletes including Robinho, Javier Mascherano and Zlatan Ibrahimovic offer candid insights on their game and match preparation.
The Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II boot will be available at retail globally from April 1. 2010. AP
