Earlier this week, Nike unveiled the third edition of the Mercurial Dream Speed, once again featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, and Sam Kerr as its marquee athletes. However, an intriguing twist has emerged with the appearance of Ansu Fati and Vinicius Jr. wearing these new boots, sparking speculation that Nike might be preparing to expand its exclusive roster.

If you were told that the future faces of the Mercurial Dream Speed franchise would include Ansu Fati and Vinicius Jr., you’d probably be intrigued. Indeed, these two young stars, representing Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively, have been seen sporting the new Mercurial Vapor Dream Speed 3—Fati while on international duty with Spain, and Vinicius with his club.

The Mercurial Dream Speed 3 was initially launched with Ronaldo, Mbappe, and Kerr as the central figures, maintaining an elite image for the line in its previous iterations. However, Fati and Vinicius wearing the Vapor model—distinct from the Superfly worn by the established trio—hints at a strategic move by Nike to boost the profile of this low-cut version. This inclusion of emerging talents suggests that Nike may be positioning itself to embrace the next generation of football stars.

Given that Fati, at just 17, and Vinicius, at 20, are already making significant impacts for some of Europe’s most prestigious clubs, their involvement with the new boots indicates Nike’s intention to highlight future stars early on. This proactive approach to integrating younger players into high-profile campaigns is a clear signal of their commitment to the evolving landscape of football talent.