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Nike Mercurial Dream Speed Timeline
A look back at the complete Dream Speed collection as the 6th edition lands
Nike’s Mercurial Dream Speed series was born out of Nike wanting to go that bit further for their absolute elite professionals – the type of player that is on another level to their fellow professionals and deserves standout treatment. This is the sixth drop from the Dream Speed series and it’s designed for the elite to wear it with responsibility.
We're taking a trip back to September 2019 to the very first Dream Speed edition to see how this series has grown to become a symbol of Nike elite status on pitch.
Nike Mercurial Dream Speed 001
The Dream Speed series kicked off as Nike wanted to pay tribute more than just one of the elite athletes. The first edition was inspired by the fastest players in the game and took design cues from blueprints, perforation patterns, registration marks, crop lines, colour codes, a scale ruler, and other graphic elements that show how the boot was built. It was a bold opening to the series, featuring iridescent flashes throughout, most notably on the big & bold 'MDS 001' graphic that wrapped round the heel.
Nike Mercurial Dream Speed 002
The second iteration of the Mercurial Dream Speed delivered a juicy slice of summery vibes as it took to the pitch in a citrus-infused colourway, the transition of colours representing the various frequencies of light. It featured the speed of light (299,792,458 meters per second) embedded within the outline of the Swoosh, while the gradient dotted design on the upper took inspiration from the iconic Mercurial Vapor III.
Nike Mercurial Dream Speed 003
Inspired by the pure speed of the game, Nike launched the third drop from their Mercurial 'Dream Speed' series, with a design packed with graphic elements that characterised quickness. The busy design featured, among other things, a predominantly forward facing chevron band that pointed the way, a wavy net pattern that represented the rippling effect made when a goal is scored, a dotted pattern on the grid of the inner heel to denote formations used by winning teams across the years, as well as the famous safari print
Nike Mercurial Dream Speed 004
Featuring a design that’s inspired by space shuttle reentry capsules descending at hypersonic speeds, the Mercurial Dream Speed 004 landed in March 2021. Typical low earth orbit re-entry speeds are near 17,500 mph, and that speed creates incredible energy caused by friction, resulting in a heat of 1500 degrees Celsius with well-known visible effects. And that’s where the look for the Dream Speed 004 came from, bursting with colour in a nice contrast to the MDS003.
Nike Mercurial Dream Speed 005
MDS005 was created to the exact specifications of Cristiano Ronaldo, and the design inspiration came from his most powerful tool— the mind. According to Ronaldo, a calm mental state means strong decision making, so the boot plays with that in the "Barely Green/Volt/Electro Purple" colourway, slowly transitioning from a tranquil green into commanding hues of turquoise and purple, demonstrating the power generated by a restful aura. Not quite seeing the link to speed as clearly as with the other entries, but we'll assume it's there and leave it at that.
Nike Mercurial Dream Speed 006
The most recent chapter of the Nike Mercurial Dream Speed series sees the boot dressed in floral prints of the nations whose players will wear it. The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Leroy Sane, Sam Kerr, Kylian Mbappé and Ada Hegerberg will all take to the pitch in the boot in 2023 as this elite pool of world-beaters receive their flowers from the Swoosh.
Shop the full Nike Mercurial Dream Speed football boots collection here.