Kylian Mbappe, known for his mercurial playing style, made his first appearance at France’s training session for the international break. He wore a whiteout prototype of Nike’s upcoming generation of the Mercurial Superfly boots.

This international break has been a treat for boot enthusiasts, as Giacomo Raspadori of Italy and Jude Bellingham of England showcased an unreleased colorway of the Adidas Predator 24. Now, Mbappe and Marcus Thuram have arrived at Clairefontaine for France’s duties, donning a prototype of the next iteration of Nike Mercurial boots.

Although this boot was spotted previously during a training session with Robert Lewandowski in Barcelona, seeing the leading ambassador of the Mercurial line test it out suggests that an official launch might be imminent.

The Air Zoom Mercurial Vapor XV and Superfly IX were released in June 2022, nearly two years ago. Considering the Mercurial’s recent release pattern, it seems fitting that an upgrade is on the horizon.

While the whiteout design cleverly conceals any specific details of technological advancements, it is evident that this prototype showcases a new upper structure and texture and a redesigned soleplate and stud configuration compared to the Vapor XV and Superfly IX. Notably, the forefoot features a ribbed structure, adding to the upcoming release’s intrigue.