Best football boots for midfielders: The latest ranges designed for middle of the pitch players from Nike, Adidas, Puma and New Balance

Whether you're a Roy Keane-esque destroyer or a midfield maestro a la Kevin De Bruyne, you'll want to find the best football boots for midfielders.

Having the right boots can make a huge difference to a player's game, with certain ranges specifically designed to assist defenders, midfielders, wingers and attackers. FFT has been dedicating itself to categorising designs to make boot shopping easier for you. If you're simply looking for the best football boots out there right now, be sure to check out our other reviews.

But here you'll find the best football boots on the market right now for midfielders...

Arguably the boot most-associated with midfielders, having been worn by David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Zinedine Zidane in years gone by - not to mention the fact Jude Bellingham now dons them each week - the Adidas Predator Elite is the latest model in the adored range of boots. 

While Adidas have proceeded to go uber-modern on the latest Predators, ditching the leather for a high-quality synthetic material to make a lightweight option, these still manage to retain the heritage that made me fall in love with Predators in the first place. The classic foldover tongue certainly helps, but it's the rubber striking elements that makes these perfect for midfielders.

Indeed, the 'Strikeskin' rubber fins offer an extra element of grip we've all become accustomed to with the Predator range, helping with passing and striking. This makes these boots, therefore, an ideal option for any midfielder, while the lightweight design adheres to the what players want from the best football boots in the modern market, too. 

With a laceless and non-tongue variation available, the Predator Elite also ensures each midfielder's preference is met. I personally loved the nostalgic feel of the tongue version, though I didn't notice any difference in terms of performance with other options. 

• Read our full Adidas Predator Elite review 

Built using New Balance's hypoknit material, the upper is extremely soft and flexible, making them one of the most comfortable options available on the market compared to other synthetic models. With the added benefit of the knit stretching slightly over time, creating the perfect fit with the Tekela V4+ Pro Low is certainly possible, too – even for those with wide feet. 

What makes these ideal for midfielders is that they offer a true, one-to-one sensation with football and boot, due to the thinness of the upper. This minimalist barrier allows playmakers to get on the ball and manipulate passes how they see fit – though I still found that the texturing provides a slight added element of grip. While not a drastic amount, it's certainly noticeable and ensures midfielders have that little improvement in control when in possession. 

The soleplate is also perfect for midfielders needing to change direction quickly during games, with the combination of conical studs and bladed studs allowing for easier twisting and turning, as well as added traction in doing so. Indeed, the unique configuration has bladed studs dotted around the edge of the outsole to provide extra stability in sharp changes of direction, perfect for when you're trying to evade challenges or catch your opposition number.

I personally love wearing these boots when playing in the centre of the park, and they're certainly a great alternative to what the big players, like Nike and Adidas, produce year after year. 

• Read our full New Balance Tekela V4+ Pro Low review 

With the sticky Gripknit upper geared towards greater control of the ball, Nike have produced a boot that is arguably the most innovative of the best boots on the market right now. Forming the entirety of the upper, the texturing provides an incredible level of grip. The feature is instantly recognisable in your hands, and even more so when a ball is at your feet. Rain won't even affect grip levels either, with the material waterproof – ideal for those of us plying our trades in wetter climes. 

Plus, they're immediately comfortably, with the soft and pliable upper requiring little break-in time. Elsewhere, the soleplate ensures agility and stability come hand-in-hand as well, allowing playmakers to flourish through cutting movements and incise passes. This might be too flexible for some, but I personally loved the freedom of movement.

What does fall down on the Nike Phantom GX, though, is the lack of protection they offer in the heel area. So if you constantly find yourself skipping away from opponents around the centre circle, be mindful that you could be vulnerable to nicks from clumsy opposition players. 

• Read our full Nike Phantom GX Elite review 

Despite Nike transitioning from natural leather to a synthetic upper for its Tiempo line in 2023, the sensation is largely the same. Offering a cushioned touch on the ball, the Tiempo Legend 10 still has plenty of padding to ensure each first touch and pass is always under control.

A more traditional design means these are great for players with wide feet, as they don't look to hug your feet as tightly as lightweight speed boots. That doesn't mean that they've got extra bulk, however, as Nike has clearly focussed on creating a more modern Tiempo this time around.

I definitely found these to be a better option for going into tackles with, due to the extra protection they offer, though that didn't diminish my playmaking abilities. Without any added elements or extra grip provided on the upper, I found my touch on the ball to be a lot more natural, meaning there wasn't any adaptation period needed.

The Copa Pure 2 Elite+ delivers more than enough to justify its early upgrade from the Copa Pure in 2023. There is ample cushioning in the heel in what is one of the most noticeable changes. This adds a lot in terms of comfort in this area but also adds a degree of bulk that is perhaps not as desirable for a truly modern midfielder.

The upper is split between calfskin leather in the forefoot and towards the midfoot, with a synthetic material towards the heel. The generous helping of leather on the Copa Pure 2 Elite+ contributes to a comfortable feel and a plush touch on the ball. 

With the Copa Pure 2 Elite+, the brand has gone with a more traditional 'U throat' construction with a separated tongue. This makes the Pure 2 Elite+ a slightly snugger fit and creates a nice subtle nimbleness.  The soleplate is the torsion outsole first seen on the now discontinued Nemeziz and features studs with a rounded head and bladed bottom to help with both rotational movements and when attempting to move at speed. This is a solid, no-frills plate that feels good under foot.

• Read our full Adidas Copa Pure 2.1 review

The Future line has grown into one of the most reliable on the market and the brand appears to have chosen to refine what was an excellent boot in the Puma Future Ultimate rather than reinvent the wheel for the Puma Future 7 Ultimate. The excellent comfort, flexibility and subtle grippiness of the upper added to a soleplate built for agility means that creative midfielders in particular may feel their game is aided by this boot.

The upper is once again made up of Puma’s Fuzionfit360 material and these require no time to break in whatsoever and feel better out of the box than many pairs do when fully worn in. The boots also fit fairly widely so are a great option for those with wider feet. 

The Dynamic Motion System soleplate used is sturdy in the midfoot for stability and has a good level of flexibility in the forefoot area to complement the naturals movements of your feet. The soleplate is not the most aggressive on the market but does feature some bladed alongside diamond shaped studs so there is that little bit of extra traction when pushing off that may suit midfielders who need to be able to move quickly but whose games are not perhaps built around speed in a way that demands a very aggressive soleplate. 

• Read our full Puma Future Z 1.4 review

How we test football boots

We wore each of the best boots available on the market over a number of different sessions to test each pair to their true potential, helping determine their performance levels across a range of different factors. On this specific occasion, we largely focussed on touch and control of the ball, due to midfielders generally having more possession than any other player on the pitch. That's not to say we overlooked other elements, though, as we still kept an eye on how comfortable the boots were, what stability was like and how they fit, too.

An expert member of our team tested these boots, across a number of different games. They live and breathe football boots, and are able to cut through the marketing jargon straight to the crux of each pair's specific details.

How to choose the best football boots

With so many different options available, choosing the right pair for you can often prove a bit of a minefield. There are a range of different considerations needed to find what suits you and your game best, and doesn't simply have to rely on what piece of tech each brand is championing on their latest model.

Ultimately, it's all down to personal preference. So, with that in mind, there are some factors to consider when looking for your next pair...

Leather or synthetic

In the past, midfielders might have preferred a leather upper to help with their tough tackling, but there's been a marked shift over the past decade as players opt for lighter, synthetic options. Synthetic uppers are generally a lot more lightweight but offer little in the way of protection, while leather can be considerably more comfortable due to the padded material. 

Most synthetic uppers will be slightly thinner and offer less padding than their natural leather counterparts. They will, though, offer a much closer connection to the ball with the thinnest synthetics providing a close to barefoot feel. 

There is also the option of leather-imitating synthetics that represent a nice in between. These are often more lightweight than natural leather but come with much of the same comfort and pliability.

Midfielders, therefore, are suited to a wide variety of options available on the football boot market, with something for everyone. Regardless, it all comes down to personal preference. Midfielders don't necessarily have to conform to what is 'best' for them - if they prefer a Nike Mercurial Superfly, then why not wear them?

Styling

With so many different colourways available for each football boot, this is arguably the hardest area in which players can select what they want for their feet. Most brands will offer pairs that are simpler and more traditional in look and also ones that are flashy and colourful. 

Getting the right fit

We would always recommend trying a pair before buying because making sure your cleats are the perfect length and width is key. 

Pairs of the same size often vary slightly in length between brands and across models, so it important to try a pair on in order to know whether it is better to go a half-size up or down for a particular pair or brand. 

Foot shape is highly personal so consider the shape of your feet when looking for a pair. Some cleats are very narrow so will not suit anyone with wide feet and likewise very wide fitting pairs can sometimes feel slightly awkward for those with especially narrow feet. 

This is especially important if considering a pair of laceless boots as the lack of laces means there is very little adaptability – they will either work for your feet or they won’t.