Creative Soccer Culture

A Retrospective Look at the CR7 Mercurial Chapter Series

As the seventh design drops to complete the current signature series, we're taking a look back at every chapter of Cristiano Ronaldo x Nike Mercurial storytelling. Serving as a prestigious timeline of success and recognition, the CR7 Chapter series marks out the movements of a maestro.

This ain't the end of Cristiano Ronaldo's Nike dominance. There were signature CR7 boots before this series and they'll be more exclusive treatment after it, but as the Chapter line is wrapped up we revisit a series that celebrated Ronaldo's achievements while serving as the tools to create more astounding history.

Chapter 1 "Savage Beauty" | The first chapter of the CR7 signature line dropped in October 2015 when Nike announced the seven part series with the "Savage Beauty" design. Taking inspiration from the volcanic island of Madeira, where Ronaldo was born, the boot took on a lava laden print.

111-cr7-nike-mercurila-chapter-series.jpg
1-cr7-nike-mercurila-chapter-series-min.jpg
2-cr7-nike-mercurila-chapter-series-min.jpg

Chapter 2 "Natural Diamond" | March 2016 brought the second installment of the series as Nike dropped a design that focused on Ronaldo's move away from is childhood home in Madeira to Lisbon, on a quest to become a professional football player. Turned out alright, that quest. Chapter 2 is a contender for top spot in our book.

CR7-Blue-Img3.jpg
13-cr7-nike-mercurila-chapter-series-min.jpg
14-cr7-nike-mercurila-chapter-series-min.jpg

Chapter 3 "Discovery" | The third chapter recognised Cristiano’s fateful game for Sporting Lisbon against Manchester United on August 6th, 2003 — a match that convinced Sir Alex Ferguson to bring the explosive teenager to Old Trafford. The boot dropped in November 2016 with a split colour combo and signature branding.

CR73Img1.jpg
11-cr7-nike-mercurila-chapter-series-min.jpg
12-cr7-nike-mercurila-chapter-series-min.jpg

Chapter 4 "Forged For Greatness" | The CR7 Mercurial series powered on through to Chapter 4 as Nike recalled his shift to the iconic number seven shirt at Manchester United. Launched in April 2017 it's a boot that he wore in the Champions League Final against Juventus in Cardiff. A 4-1 win and two goals. Done.

cr1.jpg
9-cr7-nike-mercurila-chapter-series-min.jpg
10-cr7-nike-mercurila-chapter-series-min.jpg

Chapter 5 "Cut To Brilliance" | Ronaldo's world record £80m transfer to Real Madrid in 2009 served as the inspiration behind the Chapter 5 design. CR7 switched into the design for the first time in Real Madrid's Champions League games against Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham Hotspur in September 2017. Up there, this one.

CR5_1.jpg
7-cr7-nike-mercurila-chapter-series-min.jpg
8-cr7-nike-mercurila-chapter-series-min.jpg

Chapter 6 "Born Leader" | The penultimate chapter of the Cristiano Ronaldo Mercurial series dropped ahead of the 2018 World Cup as Rondalo switched into a design that focused on his role as captain of his national team, Portugal. A nod to Portugal’s historical sea exploration sat within the Swoosh, and the captain’s “C” was incorporated into a raised applique of the sphere.

9-cr7-chapter-6-nike-mercurial.jpg
5-cr7-nike-mercurila-chapter-series-min.jpg
6-cr7-nike-mercurila-chapter-series-min.jpg

Chapter 7 "Built On Dreams" | The final iteration, Chapter 7, is the culmination of the series storytelling and pays homage to the Ronaldo's number 7 in the forefoot graphic, and also nods to the memorable carbon fiber Mercurial SL boots of the past. A bright red to silver gradient adorns the upper, and exclusive CR7 branding is found throughout.

cr7-7-7.jpg
3-cr7-nike-mercurila-chapter-series-min.jpg
4-cr7-nike-mercurila-chapter-series-min.jpg

Shop the Nike Mercurial CR7 signature series at prodirectsoccer.com

Author
joe.andrews

The Creative Soccer Culture Brief

Sign up to our newsletter and we'll keep you in the loop with everything good going on in the world of Creative Soccer Culture.