Brazilian soccer star Vini Jr. has taken the sport by storm, as the 24-year-old for Real Madrid has shown up on the international and club stages in clutch moments. While his relationship with Nike, which he’s had since he was 13 years old, was rocky at some moments, the duo is on great terms as Vini Jr. has helped introduce special edition cleats like the Air Max 95-inspired Mercurial Vapor 16. Now, Vini is getting his very first publicly available player edition boot.
Inspired by Vini Jr.’s bold, standout style and brilliant performance on the pitch, his player edition cleat celebrates the ascension to the top of the game. An iridescent finish blending pink and yellow shades is a nod to his game-changing quickness and how it’s fueled his journey from playing for the Flamengo football club in Rio de Janeiro to now being an international superstar. The boot fades from red to yellow along the medial side to represent these formative years at Flamengo. At the same time, the lateral comes in blue, green, and yellow, directly taking Brazil’s national team colors.
Throughout these iridescent overlays sits the phrase “Vini Fly, Vini Voa,” which repeats itself not only on these panels on the lateral and medial side, but is found on the heel. Vini’s signature logo graces the tongue, while “Vini Fly, Vini Voa” finds a home on the insole.
Even with these signature touches and inspirational color palette, the boot still contains the technical features that make the Mercurial Vapor 16 a favorite on the pitch. This includes the three-quarter-length Air Zoom unit built into the traction plate, Gripknit toebox for ball control, and a speed cage structure to keep your foot locked.
“Watching my favorite players growing up, they all wore Nike boots,” says Vini Jr. “For many years I’ve played with Mercurial exclusively — and even scored a goal in two Champions League finals. For my first Nike Player Edition boot, there was no need to move away from what already made me fly.”
The Vini Jr. x Nike Mercurial Vapor 16 Elite will release on May 26, 2025, through Nike and select retailers online and in-store. Available in men’s sizing, the retail price is $285. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Images via Nike
Images via Nike
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy attending concerts and catching the latest movies. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
