MADRID, Oct 28, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Global football star Cristiano Ronaldo today with Nike (NYSE:NKE) launched the CR Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II boot. Inspired by Ronaldo's lightning speed and effortless style off the pitch, the CR Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II combines high-performance innovation and heritage of the Nike Safari print.

Nike originally introduced the print on the Air Safari running shoe in 1987, and the unexpected aesthetic transformed performance footwear design. At the time, trailblazing Nike designer and father of the Air Jordan series Tinker Hatfield began exploring non-traditional materials, patterns and colors to use in athletic footwear and conceived the now legendary ostrich-skin print.

The limited-run Air Safari quickly sold out and gained an ardent following for its striking design. Now the iconic print is back -- this time on the feet of one of the best players in the world. The updated print has a stylized look, wrapping the entire boot and laces for a bold effect. Ronaldo's signature CR Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II represents the first time the print has been applied to performance football footwear.

"The Air Safari showed that you can create an athletic shoe that is beautiful and different without forgoing high-performance utility," said Hatfield, VP of Creative Design at Nike. "It helped individuals make a personal style statement whether they wore it on a run or out at night."

Built for speed

The game's fastest player demands a boot that not only reflects his personal style but also delivers superb traction and responsiveness. The CR Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II features the unique NIKE SENSE adaptive traction system where designers created a pair of adaptive studs in the forefoot that can extend and retract by up to 3mm, based on ground conditions and pressure exerted by the player.

Directionally positioned blades maximize cutting and allow for quick changes of direction, while secondary toe traction provides added toe-off power for those first critical steps. The result is a boot that enables greater speed in all directions.

Nike Flywire, a lightweight composite that forms the upper, increases range of motion while locking the foot to the sole plate, ensuring maximum transfer of energy from the foot to the ground. The carbon composite chassis keeps the player close to the ground for improved stability and responsiveness.

"The CR Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II makes a statement on pitch and the Safari print expresses my style," said Cristiano Ronaldo. "Combined with incredibly light and responsive performance the boot gives me everything I need to elevate my game."

In another nod to speed, the boot's arresting Safari print is overlaid with a tonal chevron pattern that is illuminated in certain light. Designed to appear as a flash in a player's peripheral vision, the reflective graphic can improve player awareness on pitch.

The CR Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II also gives consumers exclusive access to training insights from top players and coaches through Nike Football+. Each pair of boots comes with a unique user code to unlock insider tips and Master Speed training content.

Cristiano Ronaldo will debut the CR Mercurial Vapor SuperFly II on pitch November 7 during "El Derbi" which features Madrid's premier football teams. The boot will be available at retail globally and online at http://www.nikestore.com beginning November 15. Nike Football+ can be accessed at http://www.nikesoccer.com.

About Nike

NIKE, Inc. based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world's leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories and coats; Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand; and Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, visit http://www.nikebiz.com.

About Nike Football+

Nike Football+ gives footballers insider access to the world's best coaches, players and teams for total game improvement. People who purchase a new pair of Nike boots receive a unique user code that unlocks the full Nike Football+ program at nikefootball.com. They will receive all the benefits of Nike Football+ access at no added cost. The code will also provide access to future Nike Football+ programs that help players improve their game and win. Nike Football+ is available as an app for the iPhone and iPod Touch on iTunes and via the mobile web on all WAP enabled handsets.

For more information, including multi-media materials, please visit: www.nikemedia.com

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SOURCE: NIKE, Inc.

NIKE, Inc.
New York Media Relations, 212-367-4447