The Nike Mercurial Vapor 16 Elite "Solar Red" References Air Max 95 Heritage

Nike Football continues to celebrate the Air Max 95's 30th anniversary with special editions of the Mercurial Vapor 16 Elite inspired by Sergio Lozano's design.

Having tasked Kylian Mbappé with debuting a pair inspired by the AM95's debut "Neon Yellow" look earlier in the year, the Swoosh's division dedicated to the beautiful game isn't done with the commemorations. Rooted in the idea that both silhouettes employ some iteration of visible Nike Air technology, the Vapor 16 Elite features both 2025 and 1995 text on the exposed Zoom Air unit underneath the forefoot. The iridescent component interrupts the pitch-dark outsole, which keeps things simple from mid-foot to heel. Up-top, the nature-inspired overlays throughout the profiles also opt for a color-shifting finish, abandoning the greyscale gradient seen on Lozano's iconic Air Max creation.

Overt nods to the industry-shifting, 30-year-old sneaker arrives in the form of "Solar Red" accents across the upper. Swooshes on the heel, Nike Air text on the spine, and airzoom emblems on the top of the knit tongue indulge in ruby-colored flair associated with one of the Air Max 95's most iconic looks. Last seen in 2018, the "Solar Red" style usually features a darker shade of the titular tone than what's appeared on the Mercurial offering. Despite appearing like the rumored "Bright Crimson" retro expected by Fall 2025, the pair's official color description reds "Black/Solar Red." Nevertheless, the included nylon drawstring bag further ties Nike Football's cleat with the storied 95s given its color scheme and branding.

Enjoy official photos of the pair below. The "Solar Red" Air Max 95-reminiscent boots are expected to hit Nike.com by the end of summer for $300.

For more footwear for the beautiful game, the original "Black/Citrus" Hypervenom returns in May.