Cristiano Ronaldo Trains In Nike Mercurial Prototype - Boot Spy

Inside the gates of Nike HQ the creative minds behind the company's biggest innovations have been working behind curtains in preparation for the 2014 World Cup. One mammoth year of football that will shape the future of Nike Football for years to come. Brasil. World Cup. Nike. A match made in heaven right?

With the tournament creeping closer each day, Nike's key 2014 launches also grow ever closer. One boot that has been on the horizon is the Nike Mercurial X. Little is known and even less has been seen until today it seems. Our exclusive images show CR7 currently testing a boot that is surely a prototype model of the next generation Mercurial model.

Little is known about the top-secret boot, but with the next Mercurial marking the silo's tenth anniversary, you can bet this will be something special. The anticipation surrounding this boot is understandably high. A boot born on the World Cup stage in 1998, Nike will no doubt pump every ounce of energy and innovation into their landmark Mercurial.





Lets speculate a little. Early suggestions point to something never before seen in modern football. As our pictures reveal, Ronaldo's boots have a unique design with a raised sock-like profile around the heel and ankle area - a similar feature to the boots recently seen on the feet of Barcelona duo Andres Iniesta and Pedro. A new innovation for Nike's top-tier boots?



At this early stage it's all speculation. For now they're on the feet of Cristiano Ronaldo, the man who inherited the Mercurial crown from his Brasilian namesake. Nike have been using the Portuguese international and his career-long relationship with the Mercurial to help fine-tune the new model.





International tournaments always guarantee something special from the Swoosh. In 2010 Nike defied convention with the 'Elite' series that went on to dominate the World Cup in South Africa. Could Brazil 2014 stage some of Nike's biggest football innovations yet? Stick with us as we bring you the latest updates on Nike's key 2014 launches.

What do you expect from the Nike Mercurial Vapor X? Let us know what you think. Join the conversation online, on Twitter and on Facebook.