CR7 is one of the greatest ever to lace up his boots and hit the pitch, and Cristiano’s journey to superstardom began in 2002. At 17, he subbed in for Antonio Tonito during the 58th minute of play for Sporting Lisbon in a Champions League game against Inter Milan. He took the pitch in a pair of Nike Mercurial Vapor 1s in his first appearance. Now, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s 40th birthday and coming off the retro of the Nike Mercurial Vapor 1 in the Chrome Lime colorway worn by the Brazillian legend Ronaldo, Nike is bringing back the original Dark Cinder colorway worn by CR7 in his debut match.
While the pair will remain identical to the original 2002 version worn by the 17-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, this version in 2025 comes with some upgrades, including a thinner synthetic upper and 3/4 length Air Zoom cushioning. Across the upper is a dark cinder color, which contrasts the white hue of the Swoosh, the metallic overlay on the heel, and the maize-shaded sockliner. Exclusive to this CR7-branded version is the legend’s logo and the pro debut date added to the insole.

As mentioned before, the boot has been upgraded for the modern day, with the outsole containing a wave-like traction pattern that takes up more surface area of the Air Zoom unit compared to the Mercurial Vapor 15. When combined with the chevron and blade studs, this helps you stop when making cuts and provides comfort for 90 minutes of play.
The Nike Mercurial Vapor 1 Cristiano Ronaldo SE FG Debut will release on February 13, 2025, through Nike and select retailers online and in-store. Available in men’s sizing, the retail price is set at $300. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Image via alexk9295 C/O eBay


Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. Concerts, music, trying new restaurants, and catching the latest movies are some of the things I enjoy when not writing for Sole Retriever. Email: nick@soleretriever.com