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Best Men's Football BootaGOAL / various

The best men's football boots you can buy in 2023

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There's no time like the present to get yourself out onto the pitch to play, and picking out the perfect football boots isn't just something you can leave to chance. These are precision-made pieces of well-honed craftwork made by some of the most popular manufacturers in the world, like Nike, adidas, New Balance, PUMA and many more.

It's only right that you put plenty of thought into your new footwear, from where you're going to play to what you're going to do with it – and luckily, you don't have to break the bank to shop for the perfect pair.

Before buying anything, though, it's vital to know just what you can find on the market and what you'll need, depending on how and where you play.

Click here to skip ahead to our round-up of the best men's football boots.

Our top three:

Best firm ground overall football boots: adidas Copa Pure.1

Best soft ground overall football boots: New Balance Furon v7 Pro

Best multi-ground overall football boots: adidas Copa Pure.3

FAQs:

What is the best football boot?

There is no "best" type of football boot, per se – with so many ways to play the game these days, the best kind of footwear is all down to the player's individual needs. Even before you split them into the types you can find, there will be no overarching "best" to go for, as it depends so much on what you want from them. That said, several brands have emerged over the past half-century as leading lights of the business – Nike, adidas, Umbro and more. While there are many manufacturers to choose from, these headline names have built their brands into global success stories because they know how to deliver the goods.

What type of football boot do I need?

The individual type of boot will depend on what you hope to achieve with your game and where you will be playing it. Football pitches can be split into roughly half-a-dozen different categories. Depending on which one you play on most, you'll want to purchase a boot that best enhances your performance on those particular surfaces.

What kind of surfaces are there?

You can buy football boots for five different surfaces – firm ground, soft ground, artificial grass, astro turf and indoor courts – while in addition, you can purchase a sixth type, multi-ground, which covers varied combinations of the above. On tougher grass that's frozen in the winter? You'll want firm ground. On grass that's soaked in the rain overnight? Soft ground is your best bet. Five-a-side at the local sports hall? Indoor courts are the way to go. Knowing what you'll be playing on is sometimes half the battle.

  • Firm Ground (FG) Football Boots

    Best overall firm ground boots

    adidas have a few Copa options, but this is the best option for firm grounds. The upper sports old-school leather, that moulds to your foot for stability offers great touch and control of the ball. A fold-over tongue and stitched detailing keep things classic.

  • Best budget firm ground boots

    Save your wallet taking a big hit with these budget-friendly King Match from PUMA. With a super soft microfibre upper and re-engineered design for modern playmakers, you won't be compromising on the quality, that's for sure. It also has a low-profile tongue to ensure comfort and ankle support.

  • Soft Ground (SG) Football Boots

    Best overall soft ground boots

    How do you solve a problem like a lightweight upper when it brings too much drag? You make it weigh even less, which the Furon V7 Pro achieves with its lightweight TPU outsole. This minimalist cleat is designed to give you the feeling of direct contact with the ball and the ground. The upper is constructed from a Hypoknit upper for a smooth finish.

  • Best budget soft ground boots

    Bringing progressive dynamism wherever you are on the pitch, the Mizuno Monarcida II Select Mix is one of the best soft-ground boots currently on the market. A hybrid stud ensures reliable traction of soft grounds and it also has a removable sock liner for maximum comfort. Also, the leather upper gives it a classic look which you can't beat.

  • Multi-Ground (MG) Football Boots

    Best overall multi-ground boots

    The adidas Copa range has no shortage of varieties to its established name, but this Pure might be among the most efficient options in its repertoire. The quilted leather forefront will make sure that you're the one in control of the game. A versatile outsole will make sure you can play on any surface - come rain or sunshine.

  • Best budget multi-ground boots

    Not only are the Nike Phantom GT2 a good-looking pair of shoes, but they're also engineered for speed. The conical studs give you supercharged traction to quickly get you off the mark and help pivot around the opposition. The texture on the synthetic upper allows you to control the ball better, especially when dribbling at high speeds.

  • Artificial Ground (AG) Football Boots

    Best artificial ground boots

    Reborn from the sole up to deliver a model that allows you to cut through the noise and the field like a hot knife through butter, the Mercurial Vapor 15 Elite is the boot that can help you turn your movements to smoke. Its specialised components are matched with innovative plates to create superb responsiveness. Mix it with the insole cushioning, and you've got a boot ready to adapt to the beat of artificial grass.

  • Best budget artificial ground boots

    These are a bargain for New Balance top-of-the-range boots for artificial grounds. It's an ideal option for players who want greater control of the ball and the classic silhouette provides direct contact with the ground and ball so you can be at the top of your game at all times.

  • Artificial Turf (AT) Football Boots

    Best overall artificial grass boots

    Find yourself the proven goalscorer in need of a little pick-me-up? The Nike Zoom Mercurial Superfly 9 Elite will do the job. It boasts a Flyknit collar which wraps around the foot for a snug, skin-like fit. Combined with its sharp, hexagonal grid of soft studs that run the gamut of its length, you've got one quality boot ready for action.

  • Best budget artificial grass boots

    There are a fair few adidas X options for football boots, but most recently, the sportswear giant has created a new range called Speedportal. A lugged outsole gives you good traction and digs into artificial turf pitches so you can show off your best skills.

  • Indoor Court (IC) Football Boots

    Best overall indoor court boots

    If you're a big fan of futsal or a five-a-side game, then the Nike Streetgato is perfect for ensuring you're on the winning side. The low-profile design is reinvented for attackers, with a redesigned outsole for non-stop traction for small-sided games. Plus the everyday casual look is great for when you're playing or just out and about.

  • Best budget indoor court boots

    Want extra comfort on the hard surfaces of an indoor court? Then Umbro have you covered with the stylish Velocita Alchemist Club football boots. The soft synthetic upper has a padded forefoot providing good touch on indoor courts. But Umbro hasn't skipped on style, as the boots come in a Rhubarb/Amber Gold colourway with black detailing, making it a standout option.

  • Knowing the difference between the various pitch surfaces you can buy football boots for can be confusing. So, here's a simple breakdown so you can buy the right cleats for your next adventure on a football pitch.

    Firm Ground (FG)

    Built with studs shaped like blades that help dig into natural grassy terrain for excellent grip, there's nothing more popular on the market. Firm-ground options sell well because they're ready to go whatever the weather as a boot for all seasons. So whether you're baking in summer sunshine or frozen underfoot in the winter, these will have you covered.

    Soft Ground (SG)

    Soft ground boots are designed for longer, muddy grass, making them ideal for playing in rainy places like the United Kingdom. Crafted with conical studs both longer and more rounded than the typical boot, the soft-ground option helps you dig in and avoid slippage in wet conditions.

    Multi-Ground (MG)

    Designed to deliver the best of both worlds between firm and soft ground options, multi-ground boots look to ensure that you won't trip up whether you're playing on robust or rubbish turf. While they're built to tackle most surfaces, there is a caveat to their overall quality. Despite their versatility, their shorter studs have less grip than you'd find elsewhere.

    Artificial Ground (AG)

    Synthetic surfaces typically offer greater resistance than natural grass, meaning boots are crafted with short hollow studs to help transition the natural impact of the body without causing lasting damage to joints. Be wary of the kind of boot you'll need, with varieties frequently adapted to suit 3G, 4G or even 5G pitches.

    Astro Turf (TF)

    It's easy to muddle the perceptions of artificial grass with astro turf, given both deliver simulated experiences compared to authentic pitches. But there's more than meets the eye, with both possessing crucial differences in make-up and thus requiring a different kind of boot to specialise with. These bring short rubber studs into play and bouncy soles to allow for additional spring in your step.

    Indoor Court (IC)

    Also known as futsal boots, these are specifically designed to deliver fluid experiences on hard flooring, leaving black marks behind as a thing of the past. Their rubber soles are specifically designed to do just that, while an additional bounce to the bottom helps enhance natural reactiveness.

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