In 2023, Nike made waves in the world of soccer by launching the Phantom Luna: the brand’s most woman-focused soccer shoe to date. Designed by women—though not for women only—the Phantom Luna is the product of over two years of research, designing, trailing, and styling. 

Built with a women’s perspective in mind, the Nike Phantom Luna is shaking up the world of soccer—for both men and women. See who’s wearing it, and why, in our short guide.

The Nike Phantom Luna: A Crash Course

How do you make an out-of-this-world soccer cleat with scary-good performance? For the creators of the Nike Phantom Luna, the answer boiled down to three things. Traction. Fit. Touch.

  • Traction. Anchoring the Phantom Luna is Nike’s Cyclone 360 traction pattern: an innovative circular stud arrangement that enables quicker pivoting with greater force, ultimately leading to less energy spent and reduced injury overall.
  • Fit. Facilitating the fit and feel of the Phantom Luna, a repositioned, asymmetric lacing pattern creates a larger touch surface to expand opportunities for dribbling, passing, and scoring. This pattern also allows for improved midfoot adjustability to accommodate players with arches on the flatter or higher side. Above the laces, an asymmetrical Flyknit cuff material provides a secure fit that moves with you. Subtle ribs in the Flyknit cuff facilitate better ball control up the ankle for improved one-touch trapping, passing, and volleying.
  • Touch. We’ve already talked about the asymmetrical laces and the ribbing in the Flyknit cuff—both of which help the Phantom Luna provide an exceptional touch. But they’re not the only design innovations contributing to the Phantom Luna’s two-tier touch. There’s also the subtly sticky Nike Gripknit material. Covering the first 2 laces to give you more control-focused surface area, Gripknit contains a micro-molding material that molds to the shape of your foot to give you improved grip in both dry and wet conditions. 

Professional Players That Wear the Nike Phantom Luna

Though the Nike Phantom Luna was designed by a women-led team with input from female players, it’s available in both men’s and women’s sizes. The innovative design has won over countless players in both the men’s and women’s game. Here are just a few:

Crystal Dunn

Those who have been tracking the Nike Phantom Luna since it was first announced will know that Crystal Dunn—winger and center midfielder for NJ/NY Gotham FC and one of Team USA’s brightest stars—has done more than just wear the shoe. She was closely involved in its development.

Lauren Hemp

Confirmed as one of the pros wearing Nike’s special “Phantom Thunder” versions of the Phantom Luna, Lauren Hemp is putting the boots to good use as one of Manchester City’s best goal scorers and one of the England national team’s most promising young stars.

Kevin De Bruyne

A household name in the world of club soccer, Belgian superstar Kevin de Bruyne made headlines when he took the training field ahead of the 2023 – 2024 season sporting a pair of bright orange Nike Phantom Lunas. Returning to play following an injury, de Bruyne took the field wearing the Peak Ready Phantom Luna I, featuring the thematic cyan colorway with purple accents on both the Nike Swoosh and the Nike Cyclone 360.

Aurélien Tchouaméni

Real Madrid and French national team standout Aurélien Tchouaméni is making waves with both his play and his cleats. The midfielder has appeared in both ads and matches sporting the Phantom Luna and leading the charge for its adoption into the men’s game.

Shop the Nike Phantom Luna at SoccerPro

Ready to give the Nike Phantom Luna a try in your game? We’ve got it in the latest looks and releases right here. Shop with our team here at SoccerPro today!