Ever since his debut 20 years ago, Cristiano Ronaldo has been a Nike man. Throughout the entirety of his football career – all 815 goals and 1122 games – Ronaldo has worn Swoosh boots, almost always staying loyal to the Mercurial line that launched in the late ‘90s and was originally designed for his Brazilian namesake.
In 2015, Ronaldo’s relationship with the Mercurial entered a new phase, as he began a series of collaborations divided into 'Chapters'. Beginning with 'Savage Beauty' design – inspired by his birthplace of Madeira – and finishing with the seventh chapter, referencing his now-iconic number 7.
Since his first signature boot launched in 2010, Ronaldo and Nike have churned out a new design almost once every four months. Throughout that time, no other athlete has worn any of the designs with Ronaldo in a class of his own, at least when it comes specifically to Mercurial boots.
Looking back on his 20 year career so far, this is the history of his love affair with the Mercurial line…
GettyNike Mercurial Vapor 'Chrome'
In the earliest days of his career, Ronaldo wore the Mercurial Vapor 1. The boots appear in some of the most pivotal moments in his young career, including a bright orange pair worn during his first matches for Sporting Lisbon. It was a 'Chrome' colourway, however, that helped change the course of his life and football history. The Mercurial Vapor Chrome was on Ronaldo’s feet during the famous friendly against Manchester United in which Sir Alex Ferguson was convinced of his ability and made the decision to sign him.
AdvertisementGettyNike Mercurial Vapor 'Gold'
Ronaldo stuck with the 'Chrome' colourway through his beginnings in the Premier League – including when he scored Manchester United’s 1000th goal in the league – but by his second season he’d swapped silver for gold. The new colorway of the boot came from the R9 series, named after the other Ronaldo, but was worn by CR7 during Portugal’s Euro 2004 on home soil (they came second, losing to Greece) and Manchester United’s journey to the FA Cup, beating Millwall in the final.
GettyNike Mercurial Vapor III
The Nike Mercurial Vapor III is widely considered one of the Swoosh’s best-ever boots, and played an important role in Ronaldo’s evolution. In 2006-07 – his second season wearing the Mercurial Vapor III – Ronaldo finally secured his first Premier League trophy, almost doubling his goalscoring tally in the process. Over the next few years, Ronaldo would wear a variety of colourways – 'Platinum', 'Argon Blue' and 'Sport Red' all made an appearance – as Manchester United dominated the Premier League.
GettyNike Mercurial Vapor IV
You’re probably noticing a trend now. Ronaldo continued to wear the Mercurial Vapor line in 2008, launching the IV edition in a bright 'Orange Peel' colourway shortly before banging in his first Manchester United hat trick (at home to Newcastle, if you’re wondering). The Mercurial Vapor IV stayed on Ronaldo’s feet through a couple of iterations, as the orange was replaced by 'Sport Red', 'Pine Green', 'Marina/Volt' and 'Citron'. Ronaldo did briefly deviate from the line, wearing the special-edition Mercurial SL as he scored in normal time and the penalty shoot out of Manchester United’s Champions League victory.