Always an innovator, especially when it comes to the most popular sport in the world, Nike now introduces a boot destined to impact how soccer is played.  The radical new Magista Football boot was introduced in Spain by FC Barcelona‘s Andrés Iniesta.

The shoe redefines the concept of how football boots look and perform by providing improved fit, touch and traction. The boot is designed for the needs of the creative playmaker. Nike Flyknit technology has been engineered for football for the first time, allowing the foot to get closer to the ball and to deliver enhanced ball-feel and control.

“Our aim at Nike has always been to meet the athlete’s particular performance demands and amplify his unique set of skills. Magista inherits that transformative history of design and innovation and supercharges it,“ comments Mark Parker, NIKE, Inc. CEO and President.

Born from four years of R&D in the Nike Sport Research Lab and with feedback from some of the world’s best attacking playmakers, including Barcelona’s Andrés Iniesta and German forward Mario Gotze, the Magista is designed to enable devastating creativity in a game where space is at a premium.

“With Magista, we’ve designed a shoe that feels like an extension of the player’s body. This isn’t a boot that just goes on your foot, it’s a boot that works with your foot,” said Phil McCartney, VP of Sport Performance Footwear. “By eliminating distractions, players are free to unlock their potential and creativity.”

Flyknit technology delivers unprecedented feel, fit and control by creating a second-skin, sock-like feel and allows for strength and support to be knitted directly into the boot. The Magista also features a new mid-cut Dynamic Fit Collar for a more locked-down fit and increased awareness of the body’s movements and interaction with the ground and the ball.

“The Magista’s mid-cut Dynamic Fit collar is not just a visually compelling innovation, it’s designed to create heightened feel for the ball and enhance the player’s touch,” adds McCartney. “The mid-cut allows the foot, ankle, and lower leg work together as a single unit, emphasizing their natural movements.”

The Magista is designed for the player who is always moving, creating the attack and dictating play. In a game that is faster than ever — both mentally and physically — space is at a premium and high-speed control is essential. While the Magista player is constantly creating opportunities on the pitch, he needs to focus on seeing ahead, seeing the pass that no one else can see. The Magista liberates the player to unlock his fullest potential and focus on that split second that could change the game.

“The fit of this boot is so unique that I don’t think about it when I’m wearing it,” said Iniesta. “It allows me to move the way I need to instinctively and with more confidence.”

ALL ABOUT THE SHOE

Nike Flyknit – which was first used in Nike running shoes in 2012 and most recently in the KOBE 9 Elite basketball shoe – defies conventional shoe manufacturing processes by creating an engineered upper woven from special yarns.

“Flyknit is a material and method of manufacturing that allows us to design footwear that revolutionizes fit, creating a sock-like feel against the foot,” said McCartney. “We’re building on Flyknit’s game-changing potential and adapting it specifically to football. The second-skin nature of Nike Flyknit technology places the foot closer to the ball and creates a supernatural fit.”

Utilizing a custom Nike last and Nike Flyknit construction, Magista offers a snug fit at the arch, heel and forefoot, and the added element of a Dynamic Fit collar hugs players in, locking them down in the boot.

For consistent contact and increased control, the Magista features a 3D-knit textured upper. The Magista player needs a more aggressive texture to create friction on the ball for accurate dribbling and striking.

“Previous construction methods required added layers to the top of the boot to get this friction, ultimately moving the foot further from the ball, but Nike Flyknit allows us to knit texture directly into the boot,” said McCartney.  “3D knit is new for Nike and for football, and hundreds of revisions were required to get this 3D pattern exactly right. The result of all this work is great ball feel in a minimal package.”

To protect the foot from water and cold, Nike’s design team developed a special application of NIKESKIN placed over top the Flyknit. The skin is less than 0.1 mm thick — thinner than a sheet of paper — and melts onto the knit to help protect from water that provide protection.

The Magista player stops, decelerates and moves in multiple directions while controlling the ball. For this player, Nike added 360° rotational traction through conical studs and a Pebax®-and-nylon plate to improve traction.

Compressed nylon offers a highly responsive plate that delivers strength while remaining incredibly light. Combined with Pebax, the structure allows for flex and increased movement with the foot while eliminating mechanical flex (an area where the boot always flexes in the same spot).

Nylon extends to the big toe and acts as a chassis to help players plant and then spring off the ground for more explosive speed. Nike also removed the insole board to place the player closer to the ground for a better center of gravity and enhanced traction. Finally, the entirely conical stud configuration is unique to the Magista, enabling 360° rotation.