Shortly after capturing The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2018 award with 29.05 percent of the vote, Nike honored Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric with the Mercurial Vapor PE “Modric” boot. As the Nike press release detailed, “the boot’s full multi-chrome upper shines with an iridescent finish.” These are some gaudy boots.
Nike dropped some drip for Luka Modric. pic.twitter.com/SLcXiTGCaW
— FBL (@FOOTBALRLIFE) September 25, 2018
However, against Sevilla on Sept. 26 and Atletico on Sept. 29, Modric wore his traditional Nike Mercurial Vapor XII Elite cleats.
Many expected Modric to debut the visually stunning boots against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League, with the match taking place at the Luzhniki Stadium (the site of Croatia’s semifinal win over England and the final itself). However, while Modric did debut a special edition Nike boot — one made only available to himself — the black and gold Nike Mercurial Vapor 360s he wore were certainly a more low-key affair.
With only 13 goals in 267 Real Madrid appearances, Modric isn’t used to being the center of attention — he’s used to conducting things behind the scenes. As MARCA once reported, this is a player who “is a homely, family guy,” and a player “you will never see at one of the capital’s night clubs. He is not interested in that kind of thing … During the summer, he never changes his holiday destination. Far from the glamour of other tourist resorts, the Modric family returns to Zadar, where they holiday on the Croatian coast.”
I, for one, welcome our new footballing overlord.