adidas Nemeziz Messi 18.1 "Energy Mode"

The Adidas Nemeziz Messi 18.1 "Energy Mode" is the boot Lionel Messi wore at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, released as part of Adidas's tournament-wide "Energy Mode" boot pack that also covered the ACE, X, and Predator/COPA lines. It represented the second generation of the Nemeziz silo (following the 2017 17.1/17+ generation) with a "subtle upgrade" to the construction, and — in keeping with Adidas's pattern for its top athlete — Messi again received a bespoke signature colorway distinct from the standard-issue Energy Mode look worn by other sponsored professionals. It matters in Messi's boot history as the boot he wore through Argentina's ultimately disappointing 2018 World Cup campaign, one of the most closely watched boots of that tournament given his global profile.

The Nemeziz 18+ / 18.1 "Energy Mode" pack launched commercially on May 28, 2018, ahead of the World Cup, which ran June–July 2018 in Russia. Messi was first seen in his personal green-and-black "Energy Mode" colorway on May 24, 2018, when he switched into the boots during Argentina's pre-tournament training camp in Buenos Aires and shared the boots via his Instagram story. He continued wearing this colorway throughout Argentina's group-stage and knockout-stage matches at the World Cup. Later in 2018, Adidas moved Messi (and the wider Nemeziz range) into follow-up colorway packs, including "Spectral Mode" (launched around September 2018) and other seasonal releases, marking the end of the Energy Mode chapter specifically.

The Nemeziz Messi 18.1 built on the AgilityBandage concept introduced in the 2017 generation, with several refinements. The upper combined three main elements: AgilityBandage, which wraps around the midfoot to provide a compression fit and a close, barefoot-like touch on the ball; Torsiontapes, which deliver lockdown through twisting movements on both the lateral and medial sides of the foot; and Agilityweave, a new material offering an even softer touch than the previous generation while keeping the boot lightweight. The boot retained a Dual-Lock Collar around the ankle, featuring a V-groove cut that contours around the ankle socket to support more explosive acceleration and direction changes. The soleplate was a Chrome Green Torsionframe outsole with Torsionribs designed to enhance dynamic grip during push-off. Notably, Messi's personal pair combined the laced 18.1 build with a collar design carried over from the 17.1 generation, making his boot a distinct hybrid rather than an off-the-shelf 18.1. Independent testers who reviewed the retail Nemeziz Messi 18.1 Energy Mode noted it suited medium-width feet, had minimal upper stretch requiring a snug fit, and was regarded as one of the more durable laced options in the Nemeziz range, generally preferred over the laceless Nemeziz 18+ variant for its adjustable lockdown via laces.

Messi's Energy Mode signature colorway used a bright, vivid green (described by retailers as "Solar Green") with black accents — visually distinct from the standard-issue electric orange "Energy Mode" colorway worn by most other Adidas-sponsored players in the pack (including names like Roberto Firmino, Jesse Lingard, and Julian Draxler, who wore the orange laceless 18+). Messi's boots carried exclusive "Messi" branding on the AgilityBandage panels in place of standard "Nemeziz" wording, continuing the personalized-branding approach established in the 17.1 generation.

SoccerBible's launch coverage of Messi's Energy Mode boot leaned into his singular status within Adidas's roster, opening with the line "Lionel Messi's World Cup wheels touch down in Russia as adidas launch a signature edition," and noting: "He was never going to be supplied with the same boot as the mere mortals he shares the pitch with." The Energy Mode pack itself was Adidas's marquee 2018 World Cup boot campaign, rolled out across its full silo range (Nemeziz, X, ACE/Predator successor lines, COPA) to coincide with the tournament, with Messi as one of its most prominent global faces heading into Argentina's campaign.

Messi wore the green Energy Mode Nemeziz 18.1 throughout Argentina's 2018 World Cup campaign in Russia. Argentina opened with a 1-1 draw against Iceland, then lost 3-0 to Croatia, before Messi scored in a crucial 2-1 win over Nigeria on June 26, 2018 — a goal that kept Argentina alive in the tournament and famously drew an ecstatic reaction from Diego Maradona in the stands. Argentina were then eliminated in the round of 16 by France (4-3) on June 30, 2018, a match in which Messi did not score, ending Argentina's tournament and marking his last appearance in these specific boots at that World Cup. No sources confirm additional Messi goals at the 2018 World Cup beyond the Nigeria strike; his tournament tally that year was one goal.