Always forward. Always fast. It’s a sharp tagline from Nike, but it’s one which perfectly illustrates what the Mercurial boot range is all about – the need for speed.

There is a science to fast, and the Mercurial university dishes out PHDs in the subject, consistently educating the market with some of the most technologically-advanced boots we’ve ever seen.

Over the last two decades, Mercurial has taken on an identity like no other, becoming synonymous as the boot for skillful and rapid players, a key tool to producing show-stopping moments.

If you’re fast, you’re Mercurial, it’s as simple as that. From R9 to CR7, the best in the world trust Mercurial’s expertise and that is no different for some of the leading lights in Middle Eastern football. Through the eyes of NOW and NEXT Nike athletes, we discover what it means to be Mercurial and much more.

Shabab Al Ahli’s UAE international marksman Ahmed Khalil represents the present and he is among the big names donning the new Mercurial Vapor 13 for the 2019/20 Arabian Gulf League.

Designed to outmaneuver opponents, the Mercurial Vapor 13 sports angular studs with a lightweight forefoot plate while boasting a stiff chassis – only your confidence can keep up.

The Flyknit construction wraps the foot for a second-skin fit, while you can count on a reliable touch in wet and dry conditions with the angular studs built for explosive acceleration.

Here, the Mercurial university graduate reveals his thoughts on the boots, talks about his own career and what he likes most about his favourite Nike player.