Nike : Air Jordan II Melo

The Nike Air Max Plus hit shelves in 1998 and launched into global popularity with its daring design and innovative manufacturing background. The Nike Mercurial also released in 1998 and quickly set the standard in elite football equipment. Both shoes attracted a cult-like following in Western European circles, including athletes who looked to blur the lines of style between the pitch and the streets.

'The first time I saw the TN, it was worn by my big brother and his friends in my neighborhood,' says star French international footballer Ousmane Dembélé. 'For the Mercurial, it was on TV in a Nike ad. Like many, me and my friends called the TN, 'La Requin.''

After 20 years, and in celebration of this summer's competition, the streetwear classic officially takes a cue from performance footwear with the new Mercurial TN.

The lead colorway is in white, mirroring one of the Mercurial colorways that footballers will wear on the pitch in Russia next month. Iridescent shanks with a color-shifting effect appear across each colorway, mimicking the sole plate of the Mercurial.

More stylistic elements round out the fusion of the two designs. Emulating the sleek nature of the football boot, the Mercurial TN removes the 'fingers' associated with the traditional TN for a clean, minimalist look. The upper is coated with a TPU translucent skin. The iconic logos are oversized, composed of fused skin, that appear prominently on the heel.

The black and orange colorways of the Nike Mercurial TN will be available on May 17 on nike.com and at Footlocker UK and EU. The white colorway is available on May 31.