Few boots burned as bright and as briefly as the Nike Hypervenom. Launched in 2013 and gone by 2018, it was the striker's boot of its generation, worn by Neymar at a home World Cup and by Harry Kane through his breakout seasons. Today the Hypervenom is one of the fastest-rising names among classic football boots, and the first-generation Hypervenom Phantom has become a genuine grail. This is the complete story.
What Is the Nike Hypervenom? The Short Answer
The Nike Hypervenom was Nike's agility-focused striker's boot, launched in 2013 as the successor to the Total 90 and discontinued in 2018 when it merged into the Phantom family. It ran for three generations: the Hypervenom Phantom 1 (2013), Phantom II (2015) and Hypervenom 3 (2017), famously worn by Neymar and Harry Kane.
2013: The Hypervenom Phantom 1 Arrives
Nike unveiled the Hypervenom in 2013 as the successor to the Total 90, built for a new type of agile, unpredictable striker. The NikeSkin upper, a textured mesh for grip and touch, an anatomical tapered fit and an asymmetric stud pattern made it feel unlike anything before it. Neymar became its face, and the launch colorway in black and orange, with a skull graphic on the heel, defined the look of attacking football overnight.
That original Hypervenom Phantom 1 is now the most searched model of the line, and clean pairs disappear from the market almost immediately.
2015–2017: Phantom II and Hypervenom 3
The Hypervenom Phantom II of 2015 refined the NikeSkin texture and added a Dynamic Fit collar option, right as Robert Lewandowski scored his legendary five goals in nine minutes wearing Hypervenoms. The Hypervenom 3 of 2017 brought a sleeker construction and became Harry Kane's boot through his Golden Boot seasons at Tottenham.
The Hypervenom 3 has proven to be the most enduring of the three, remarkably so. France international Michael Olise, who plays without a boot sponsorship deal, has continued wearing his Hypervenom 3 pairs well into 2026, including at the World Cup, making it one of the very few discontinued boots still seen on elite pitches nearly a decade after release.
When Was the Nike Hypervenom Discontinued, and Why Does It Matter?
Nike discontinued the Hypervenom in 2018, folding it into the new Phantom family after just five years. That short lifespan, combined with a fanbase that never really let go, is exactly what makes original Hypervenom cleats so collectible: three generations, a handful of iconic colorways and special editions like the Hydra, and then silence for seven years.
Nike broke that silence in 2025, bringing the Hypervenom 1 back with two remake colorways: the original Black/Bright Citrus in May, followed by an all-new White/Black/Photo Blue "Transform Hydra" edition in June. Both remakes use the NikeSkin upper of the 2013 original, but sit on the soleplate of the Hypervenom 3, and Nike has signaled more colorways are on the way. That makes an unworn pair of an original 2013–2017 Hypervenom a different thing entirely from a 2025 remake, and the two are increasingly easy to tell apart once you know what to look for.
Nike Hypervenom: Complete Timeline
The entire Hypervenom era spans just five years and three generations, before Nike brought the name back for a limited remake run:
| Model | Release Year | Worn By | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hypervenom Phantom 1 | 2013 | Neymar | NikeSkin upper, asymmetric studs, black and orange launch icon |
| Hypervenom Phantom II | 2015 | Robert Lewandowski | Dynamic Fit collar option, the five-goals-in-nine-minutes boot |
| Hypervenom 3 | 2017 | Harry Kane, Michael Olise | Sleeker construction, Kane's Golden Boot seasons; still worn by Olise as of 2026 |
| Discontinued | 2018 | — | Merged into the Nike Phantom family |
| Remake era | 2025–present | — | Black/Bright Citrus and "Transform Hydra" remakes on a Hypervenom 3 soleplate |
Even the Pros Hunt for Hypervenoms
Here is the part we can prove: today's young stars grew up watching Neymar in Hypervenoms, and now they come to us for them. Lamine Yamal got his first-generation Hypervenom Phantom from Euniqueboots back when he was still a Nike player himself, before his high-profile switch to Adidas in February 2024, likely drawn to the boot by his childhood idol Neymar. Mathys Tel picked up a Phantom 3, and Vitor Roque is on the list too. You can see the deliveries on our Instagram feed, often with the players themselves reacting under the posts. When the most exciting teenagers in world football choose a discontinued boot over anything modern, and in Yamal's case over their own sponsor's current lineup, that tells you where the Hypervenom stands, remakes or not.
Which Hypervenom Should You Collect?
- For the grail: The 2013 Hypervenom Phantom 1 in black and orange, the Neymar launch icon
- For the story: A Phantom II from the Lewandowski five-goal era
- For the Kane connection: The Hypervenom 3 from his Golden Boot seasons
- For rarity: Special editions like the Hydra, made in small numbers and rarely resold
- For originality: Make sure you're buying an original 2013–2017 pair rather than a 2025 remake if authenticity to the era matters to you, the remakes use the Hypervenom 3 soleplate rather than the original one
How Do You Spot an Authentic Hypervenom?
- Look for the signature NikeSkin texture and the asymmetric stud pattern
- Verify era-specific tags from the 2013 to 2017 production years
- Check the soleplate if you're unsure whether you have an original or a 2025 remake, since remakes carry the Hypervenom 3 soleplate regardless of which upper colorway they use
- Buy from sources that guarantee deadstock, unworn condition
How Do You Preserve Vintage Hypervenoms?
- Cleaning: Wipe the synthetic upper with a damp cloth and avoid harsh chemicals
- Storage: Keep away from direct sunlight to prevent the bold colorways from fading
- Playability: The grip still performs, but grail pairs like a Phantom 1 belong in the display cabinet
FAQs About the Nike Hypervenom
What is the Hypervenom Phantom 1?
The original 2013 model that launched the line, worn by Neymar. Its black and orange launch colorway, with a skull graphic on the heel, is the single most wanted original Hypervenom among collectors.
What year did the Nike Hypervenom come out?
The Nike Hypervenom launched in 2013 as the successor to the Total 90, with Neymar as the face of the original Hypervenom Phantom.
When was the Nike Hypervenom discontinued?
Nike discontinued the Hypervenom in 2018, after just five years and three generations, when the line was folded into the new Nike Phantom family.
Who wore the Nike Hypervenom?
Neymar was the face of the original Hypervenom Phantom in 2013, Robert Lewandowski scored his five goals in nine minutes in the Phantom II, and Harry Kane wore the Hypervenom 3 through his Golden Boot seasons at Tottenham.
Is the Hypervenom 3 still worn by professional players today?
Yes, most notably by France international Michael Olise. Playing without a boot sponsorship deal, Olise has kept wearing his Hypervenom 3 pairs through 2026, including at the World Cup, making it a rare case of a discontinued silo still appearing at the top level of the game.
What replaced the Nike Hypervenom?
The Nike Phantom family replaced the Hypervenom in 2018, ending the original run after three generations.
Did Nike re-release the Hypervenom?
Yes. After seven years off the market, Nike brought the Hypervenom 1 back in 2025 with two remake colorways, a Black/Bright Citrus edition in May and a White/Black/Photo Blue "Transform Hydra" edition in June, both built on the Hypervenom 3 soleplate. The original 2013–2017 pairs remain a separate, finite supply from these remakes.
Is the Hypervenom Phantom 1 rare?
The original 2013–2017 Phantom 1 pairs are a finite supply and rare, especially clean, unworn examples, which disappear from the market almost immediately. Nike's 2025 remakes use a different soleplate, so they don't affect the rarity of an original pair.
What is the price range for retro Hypervenoms?
Roughly €300 to €800 and beyond for original 2013–2017 pairs, depending on model and rarity. First-generation Phantoms and special editions command the top prices.
Own the Striker's Boot of a Generation
Every pair of Nike Hypervenom cleats and football boots in our catalog is brand new, unworn and 100% authentic, with worldwide shipping. Browse the full Hypervenom collection here. And to understand where the Hypervenom came from, read our Nike Total 90 history, the power boot it replaced in 2013.
