GOAL / various
adidas Predator Pro
From
$159.99
Buy nowThere's no time like the present to get yourself out onto the pitch to play, and picking out the perfect soccer cleats isn't something you can leave to chance. These are precision-made boots made by some of the most popular manufacturers in the world.
It's only right that you put plenty of thought into your new soccer cleats, from where you're going to play to what you're going to do with them – and luckily, you don't have to break the bank to discover the perfect pairs.
adidasRecommended for: Midfield players hoping for a comfortable, structured option without excess bulk
Worn by: Jude Bellingham, Aitana Bonmati, Lionel Messi, Alessia Russo
Colorways available: 4
For unrivalled power and ball control, look no further than the adidas Predator Pro to get you hitting top bins every time. With a stunning Strikeskin, great grip, and, most importantly, a comfortable fit, there's nothing we don't love about adidas' latest Predator Boasting all the latest tech, including Hybrid touch 2.0 for an enhance feel on the pitch and PRIMEKNIT collar for ankle support - you're looking at a pair of soccer cleats that give you the power to perform at your best.
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 4/5 |
| Speed | 4/5 |
| Control | 5/5 |
| Style | 5/5 |
| Value | 4/5 |
NikeRecommended for: Attacking players seeking great touch and a lightweight football boot that is easy to command across the pitch
Worn by: Jamal Musiala, Courtois, Alisson Becker
Colorways available: 6
One of the lightest football boot silos to date, the Nike Tiempo Legend Elite is for players who command a match with class. Loved by the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Sergio Ramos, the silhouette is a much-loved classic among elite players and football fans. The upper has raised textures backed by soft foam pods for precise dribbling, passing, and shooting, while studs on the bottom provide traction for quick cuts and sudden stops. Its engineered leather build makes it the best football boot for unrivalled touch.
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 5/5 |
| Speed | 2/5 |
| Control | 4/5 |
| Style | 3/5 |
| Value | 4/5 |
adidasRecommended for: Explosive players looking for thin, light boots to push off and turn quickly on and off the ball
Worn by: Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah, Heung-min Son
Colorways available: 3
For unrivalled power and ball control, look no further than the adidas F50 to get you hitting top bins every time. They have a thin Fibertouch upper with a Compression Fit Tunnel Tongue for lockdown and a Sprintweb 3D texture to help keep the ball close when you're flying. Designed for dry grass pitches, the springy Sprintframe 360 outsole supports relentless pace.
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 3/5 |
| Speed | 5/5 |
| Control | 3/5 |
| Style | 5/5 |
| Value | 3/5 |
New Balance Recommended for: Those with wider feet and creative players who seek a lightweight cleat
Worn by: Endrick, Bukayo Saka, Harvey Elliot, Jordyn Huitema
Colorways available: 2
Offering up standard and wide-width options for most of their soccer cleat silhouettes, New Balance is the best choice for players with wide feet. Featuring a full-foot stretch-knit upper, the Tekela v5 is particularly great for wider feet. Plus, these have a re-engineered anatomical heel package for ultimate comfort and reduced break-in. Coming in at just 7oz, these New Balances pack a lot into a lightweight and dependable cleat.
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 4/5 |
| Speed | 4/5 |
| Control | 4/5 |
| Style | 4/5 |
| Value | 4/5 |
NikeRecommended for: Quick, nimble players looking for highly responsive boots to complement their style
Worn by: Kylian Mbappé, Cristiano Ronaldo, Vinicius Junior
Colorways available: 4
The Mercurial is Nike’s best soccer cleat for speed. It also helps that it’s a great-looking soccer cleat in general. To enhance speed, it has an improved heel Air Zoom unit to help you flash your speed. For style, you’ve got a range of sensational colorways, from Magic Flamingo to Ocean Cube and a University Red that will just shine on the pitch. The silhouette is a much-loved classic among elite players and fans of the game.
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 3/5 |
| Speed | 5/5 |
| Control | 3/5 |
| Style | 5/5 |
| Value | 3/5 |
MizunoRecommended for: Midfield players hoping for a comfortable, structured option without excess bulk
Worn by: Sergio Ramos, Fernando Torres, Joao Felix
Colorways available: 5
The Crème de la crème of soccer cleats. When it comes to a luxurious soccer cleat, Mizuno knows what they’re doing, with their Made in Japan collection leading the charge. Constructed from the finest Kangaroo leather, which provides an unrivalled sense of touch, the build of these soccer cleats offers the highest level of comfort. On top of all that, the Morelia Neo Suede uses Suede for the insole surface material for better grip. If you’re on the hunt for the best of the best, this is it.
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 4/5 |
| Speed | 3/5 |
| Control | 4/5 |
| Style | 3/5 |
| Value | 3/5 |
NikeSuper-lightweight, snug, and grippy, the Nike Mercurial Vapor is designed for our power forwards and midfielders who need to cover wide areas of the pitch and maintain total ball control.
Low to the ground and fast in the air, the all-new improved fit of Nike’s soccer cleats guarantees you better lockdown and feel of the ball to facilitate fast movements. Coming in at under $100 for an outstanding pair of soccer cleats, you really can't go wrong. We recommend going half a size smaller for a snug fit.
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 3/5 |
| Speed | 5/5 |
| Control | 3/5 |
| Style | 5/5 |
| Value | 3/5 |
adidasFor unrivalled power and ball control, look no further than the adidas Predator Elite to get you on target every single time. With a stunning Strikeskin, great grip, and, most importantly, a comfortable fit, there's nothing we don't love about adidas' latest Predator, boasting all the latest tech. A HybridTouch upper and PRIMEKNIT collar - plus a laceless construction, you're looking at a pair of soccer cleats that give you the power to perform at your best.
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 4/5 |
| Speed | 4/5 |
| Control | 5/5 |
| Style | 5/5 |
| Value | 4/5 |
PUMAAn adaptive cleat inspired by Neymar Jr.’s playing style. The PUMA Future has a mixed soft ground stud pattern, with a FLEXGILITY outsole that is designed for traction and agility in those unpredictable changes of direction.
Made for the creative players, the FUZIONFIT construction combined with the optimized 3D textures on the upper makes it the soccer cleat of choice for ball grip and control when dribbling, passing, and finishing.
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 4/5 |
| Speed | 3/5 |
| Control | 4/5 |
| Style | 3/5 |
| Value | 4/5 |
NikeThe best soccer cleats will give you great feel of the ball, exceptional comfort and look the part, what could only make them better is if you can use them on multiple surfaces. With the Nike Nike Zoom Mercurial Superfly cleats, you can do just that.
Adapted for use on both natural and synthetic surfaces, these soccer cleats have been redesigned for an improved feel and fit. A signature Nike Zoom Air unit provides a springy underfoot feel that helps you move faster on the field, and a unique traction pattern helps you set off with quick release off the ground. A soccer cleat that does it all, plus looks good while doing so - it’s a 10/10 from us.
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 4/5 |
| Speed | 4/5 |
| Control | 4/5 |
| Style | 4/5 |
| Value | 4/5 |
adidasUnrivalled accuracy and control, it’s literally in the name of this adidas soccer cleat. When you’re looking to make punchy strikes on the pitch, the Predator Elite has you covered with Traxionframe artificial grass outsole, made to optimize your moves on artificial grass. Combine high definition grip on the upper with solid traction on the outsole, and you’ve got a soccer cleat built for control, helping players master the ball and dominate their game.
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Comfort | 4/5 |
| Speed | 4/5 |
| Control | 5/5 |
| Style | 4/5 |
| Value | 4/5 |
Getty ImagesKnowing the difference between the various pitch surfaces you can buy soccer cleats for can be confusing. So, here's a simple breakdown so you can buy the right cleats for your next adventure on a soccer field.
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 cleat for all seasons. So whether you're baking in summer sunshine or frozen underfoot in the winter, these will have you covered.
Soft ground cleats 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 cleat, the soft-ground option helps you dig in and avoid slippage in wet conditions.
Designed to deliver the best of both worlds between the firm and soft ground options, multi-ground cleats 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.
Synthetic surfaces typically offer greater resistance than natural grass, meaning cleats 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 cleats you'll need, with varieties frequently adapted to suit 3G, 4G or even 5G pitches.
It's easy to muddle the perceptions of artificial grass with astro turf, given that 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 cleats to specialize with. These bring short rubber studs into play and bouncy soles to allow for additional spring in your step.
Also known as futsal cleats, 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.
There is no 'best' type of soccer cleats – with so many ways to play the game these days, the best kind of footwear is all down to the player's individual needs. That said, several brands have emerged over the past half-century as leaders in the industry – 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.
The individual type of cleats will depend on what you hope to achieve with your game and where you will play.
Soccer pitches can be split into roughly half a dozen different surfaces. Depending on which one you play on, you'll want to purchase a cleat that best enhances your performance on those particular surfaces.
You can buy soccer cleats for five different surfaces – firm ground, soft ground, artificial grass, astroturf, 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. For a more detailed guide of each surface type, see below.
