One of the brightest stars taking the pitch in the world of soccer (or football if you’re not from the US) is Kylian Mbappé. Of course, as with other greats of the sport, Mbappé is sponsored by Nike, who has given the PSG star multiple special edition colorways on their performance cleats. After Kylian helped promote the upcoming Air Max 95-inspired Superfly 10, the duo is launching a Grand Purple iteration of the Nike Mercurial Zoom Vapor 16 that calls back to his various PEs from the years.
The cleat features its traditional construction. It comes with a Flyknit upper coated with Gripknit, a sticky material that provides exceptional touch to the ball and helps with dribbling, and Air Zoom cushioning alongside a traction plate. At the same time, the model retains its performance-oriented features, graphics, and details across the design, referencing various PEs from Kylian. The heel graphic is directly lifted from the “Rising Fire” cleat Mbappé wore in 2018, while the lateral Swoosh logo nods to Kylians hometown and his “Bondy Dreams” 2019 PE.
On the medial Swoosh, we see a lightning bolt transformation and monogram print for Kylian, which was used on his Rosa 2020 PE. Finally, the flame graphic on the medial heel references the “Flame” PE colorway from 2021. Two added stars along the tongue celebrate France’s two World Cup victories.
The Kylian Mbappé x Nike Mercurial Zoom Vapor 16 Grand Purple will release on April 24, 2025, through Nike and select retailers online and in-store. Available in men’s sizing, the retail price is $270. 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
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