Adidas Predator vs Nike Mercurial: Difference and Comparison

When we want to have some fun and relax, manyny of us think of sports, some of us love to play spor, andts some of us love to watch sports. Among all these sports, one of the famous and most loved sports is football.

Football boots play an essential role in the game as players can do wonders in football with the help of their shoes; it has never been easier to find the proper football boots,, but Adidas and Nike are the two major companies that have excelled in making the world’s best football boots.

Key Takeaways

  1. Adidas Predator is a soccer cleat designed for control, power, and precision, featuring a grippy surface for enhanced ball handling.
  2. Nike Mercurial focuses on speed and agility, utilizing lightweight materials and a streamlined design for quick movements.
  3. Both cleats are popular among professional athletes, with the Predator catering to playmakers and the Mercurial targeting fast, attacking players.

Adidas Predator vs Nike Mercurial

The difference between Adidas Predator and Nike Mercurial is that with a synthetic upper with a very light texture, Adidas keeps things in touch and more straightforward.

On the other hand, Nike employs a Teijen microfiber with a dimpled effect, which is supposed to give the ball a unique feel.

The Adidas Predator is a regulated hybrid with modern technology,, such as a laceless upper. Whereas the Nike Mercurial is mostly about speed and lightness, with a snug fit through the top.

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Adidas Predator is a line of football footwear created by the German sportswear company Adidas and first released in 1994. Rubber strips or patches on the top of the shoe are a common feature of the Predator range, designed to increase friction with the ball. 

The latest Adidas Predator uses ControlSkin, a highly soft synthetic material that gives a clean and effective contact on the ball through the forefoot.

Nike’s Mercurial football boot is a high-performance football boot. The boot is well-known for its lightness.

As a result, several players who rely on speed, particularly wingers and strikers, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, Eden Hazard, and others, have praised the boot.

Nike’s latest design, known as the Nike Mercurial Vapor 14 (2021),, with its inherent form of a Dragonfly‘s wing,,, inspires the new Nike Mercurial, which aims to maximize efficiency while minimizing weight.

As a result, the boot is lightweight and efficient, with only seven crucial components visible for an eye-catching appearance that communicates the bare fundamentals of speed.

Comparison Table

Parameters of ComparisonAdidas PredatorNike Mercurial
InventorAdidasNike, Inc.
Inception1994; 28 years ago2002; 20 years ago
ManufacturerAdidasNike
Material used PolyurethaneCarbon fibre
Players who wore itPaul Pogba, Dele Alli, Mesut Özil and Ivan RakaticCristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, Alexis Sanchez and Marco Asensio

What is Adidas?

Adidas Predator is based on a prototype design created by Craig Johnston, an Australian former footballer.

Rubber patches or strips on the top of the shoe are a common characteristic of the Predator line, designed to create resistance between the boot and the ball.

Adidas introduced the new “Power-spine” technology in late 2010, claiming that it boosts shot power by minimizing the time the foot bends back as it kicks the ball.

For football, the Predator line was terminated in May 2015 but was reintroduced in late 2017 to substitute the ACE boots, while the rugby line is still going strong.

The Adidas Predator 18+ is a new elite-level predator with a prime knit upper with a laceless construction, similar to the Ace 16+ and 17+. The boost insole from the Ace 17+ was carried over to the new predator.

New technologies and inventions greatly impactoots that have improved and increased their overall potential. Some of the shoes that AdidasAdidas launched are as follows:

a) Predator (1994)  b) Rapier (1995)       c) Touch (1996)     d) Accelerator (1998) e) Precision (2000) and so on

The latest model of the Adidas Predator boot, known as the Adidas Predator 21 Freak (2021), is worn by Paul Pogba and David Alaba.

Adidas has launched a bold new look of the boot that has been upgraded with unique attributes, including the introduction of 360 degrees Demonskin that add up to performance and quality.

Spiky rubber parts offer you an unfair advantage on the ball by providing good grip and ball control benefits.

adidas predator

What is Nike Mercurial?

The Nike Mercurial was praised when it first debuted in 1998 for its unique, track spike-inspired design, intended for cut-and-strike speed.

After all, “mercurial” means “unpredictable,” and the players who have served as its muse are known for their lightning speed.

Since 1998, Nike Mercurial boots have been the definitive speed demons; the Nike Mercurial boots are considered one of the most influential pieces of football design of the 20th Century.

This boot embraced minimalism and posed the question that bootmakers still ponder today: how can we get faster? It all started with side go-faster grooves, and Nike now spends thousands of dollars on lab studies.

These boys have been synonymous with speed throughout the years.

From Thierry Henry to Cristiano Ronaldo, speed merchants flocked to these exquisite boots like seagulls to chips. With the various technologies available, these boots have adapted to become lighter over time. 

The evolution of Nike Mercurial boots is an ongoing process; as time passes, these boots have attained new levels of brilliance.

Nike Mercurial boots come in different styles, and each new boot release adds to the variety and performance. Some of the Nike Mercurial boots are as follows:

a) Nike Mercurial (1998)      b) Nike Match Mercurial (2000)     c) Nike Mercurial Vapor (2002) d)Nike Mercurial Vapor II (2004)    e) Nike Mercurial Vapor III  and so on

The latest one is the Nike Mercurial Vapor 14 (2021): The Mercurial Vapor 13 is exceptionally light on your feet, weighing only 190g.

It’s not just the lightweight that makes you feel nimble. There is no padding on the upper, so contact with the ball feels tactile and engaging.

nike mercurial

Main Differences Between Adidas Predator and Nike Mercurial

1. Cleats from Adidas weigh 2-3 ounces less than those from Nike.

2. Adidas is less intense than Nike in terms of power since Nike’s Laser design does more than give your strike oomph – it allows you to calculate your shot by giving you a more sumptuous feel of the ball when it hits the ground.

3. Adidas Predator uses “Power Spine” technology in their boots. At the same time, Nike Mercurial uses “Nike Flywire technology” in their shoes.

4. Deepika Padukone is the brand ambassador of Adidas,  whereas Baichun Bhutia is the brand ambassador of Nike.

5. Adidas Predator football boots are mostly made in Germany,, whereas Nike Mercurial boots arein Italy or Bosnia.

References
  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc3918547/
  2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S076515972030071X

Last Updated : 13 July, 2023

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