Looking for the best soccer cleats in 2024? Look no further: we've reviewed the latest releases from Nike, Adidas, Puma, New Balance and plenty more of the best brands.
With so many soccer cleats on the market right now, it's important to know what you're looking for. Cleats are now tailor-made for specific roles on the field – defenders, midfielders and strikers are all catered for – but also for specific players, with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and even Liverpool's Harvey Elliott with trademark cleats of their own.
While this guide focuses on the best soccer cleats of the year, we also have other guides on the best soccer cleats under $50, the best soccer cleats under $100 and the best soccer cleats for kids, as well as other accessories everyone needs to perform better. There's great options when it comes to the best soccer cleats insoles, best grip socks for soccer, and the best goalkeeper gloves, too.
Whether you'd like something comfy for your weekly five-a-side or you take soccer cleats a little more seriously and need a pair of the greatest soccer cleats of all time, we've got your back… well your feet, of course.
A soccer jersey and cleat aficionado, Lolade Jinadu has over 40,000 followers on Instagram and a vast collection of soccer cleats. With all kinds of equipment ranging from retro to brand-new releases and one-off special edition cleats, Lolade has tested hundreds of soccer cleats over the years from a range of brands, and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the market.
Let's cut to the chase, here: this is the rundown of the best soccer cleats that you can currently buy.
The best soccer cleats in 2024
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The quick list
Improving upon the previous generation the GX model seemed impossible at first, but Nike smashed it out the park with GX 2 Elite. The grippy texturing is excellent, there's a clean striking zone and traction works perfectly.
There's great balance between comfort from the leather, protection from the padding and agility from the soleplate on the Copa Pures that make them ideally suited for modern day defenders.
The Hybridtouch material gives the cleat a more padded feel compared to most modern offerings and so offers ever-so-slightly more protection than most cleats currently on the market without any excess bulk. The return of the tongue is welcomed, too.
The extremely lightweight vaporposite and lovely grippy texture on the upper makes the Mercurials tough to beat – as usual - and ideal for quick and nimble players looking to speed away from opponents.
Boasting the best piece of innovation on the cleat market this year, the sticky Gripknit upper is geared towards greater control of the ball, while the soleplate is excellent.
The 360 cyclone soleplate is built to aid rotational traction to combat the increased tendency for serious knee injuries in the women’s game.
Combining comfort, traction and flexibility the Furon V7+ Pro is the new market leader. The latest Hypoknit material make this a standout option for those chasing top speed.
A very impressive elite boot market debut. The SKX 01 is good enough to be considered a viable, lower cost alternative to boots by bigger brands like Harry Kane's former sponsor, Nike.
With a naturally wide fit and an ability to stretch slightly over time due to Puma's Fuzionfit360 material – the Future 7 Ultimate is the perfect cleat for those who need that extra breathing space out on the pitch.
Best overall
In maintaining the Gripknit material that works so brilliantly, Nike has ensured the Phantom GX 2 Elite is still the best soccer cleat available on the market. That claim is backed up by the additional texturing, called Strikezone, which offers a clean area to smash shots at goal that little bit harder.
The result is an improved cleat suitable for the vast majority of players: from defenders to strikers, every position on the pitch can benefit greatly through the grippy texturing, which offers a sharp touch on the ball while still maintaining a relatively barefoot feel.
Perhaps the only area that the Nike Phantom GX 2 Elite falls down is the soleplate. It feels a little too flexible for my liking, though this is by no means a bad thing - it's just my personal preference to have something that is a little stiffer for improved stability. Regardless, it's still an excellent cleat that is currently my go-to when training or playing.
Regardless, not only are these one of the best Nike soccer cleats - they're also one of the best soccer cleats. Period.
Best for goalkeepers
One of the best soccer cleats for comfort, the New Balance Tekela V4+ Pro Low is a great cleat for goalkeepers seeking something to aid their dives as well as to feel confident with the ball at their feet.
There's a texturing on the upper that feels great when touching the ball. There's almost no barrier between foot and ball, either, with the knit so thin it gives a proper one-to-one sensation, something I especially enjoyed.
What makes these cleats perfect for goalkeepers is the bladed studs placed along the side of the soleplate, helping provide more bite when jumping and diving across the goal. There's a good level of rigidity in the forefoot, too, which I felt provided me with good energy return.
Just like the low-cut version of the Tekela, the laceless model features New Balance's excellent Hypoknit material on the upper, which is one of my favorites currently available on the market. And while some laceless cleats struggle with lockdown, that certainly isn't the case with the New Balance Tekela V4+ Pro.
Indeed, it has a legitimate claim to be one of the best laceless soccer cleats around, with the upper wrapping around the foot tightly. While this isn't suitable for wide feet, there is a specific option for wider-footed players that is suitable, too.
One change I am a big fan of is the updated heel. The heel on the V4+ is curved in a way that feels more anatomical and allows for your heel to push further back into the boot, aiding heel lockdown and creating more comfort, too.
Best for defenders
Built in a more traditional, two-piece upper, the Adidas Copa Pure 2 Elite is a cleat that offers plenty of protection, comfort and a great range of passing to help those threaded through-balls, making them undoubtedly one of the best soccer cleats for defenders.
This is all achieved through a padded heel, leather upper and quilting that provides an extra layer for defenders embroiled in hard-hitting challenges on a regular basis. They're durable, too, so last a while as players put their bodies on the line.
I don't think these features will impact your ability to keep up with quick and crafty attackers, either. The FG option features rounded, headed and bladed base studs to allow comfortable pivoting alongside an extra bit of aggression when taking off. This balance is perfect for a defender with an upper that is made for comfort, while also adding requisite agility levels through the soleplate.
The Premier is a wide-fitting cleat with a two-piece construction and a folding tongue that is secured using Velcro but can also be cut off using scissors. This very classic look and fit is likely to appeal heavily to traditionalists – a group to which many defenders belong.
I loved that it's a comfortable cleat, with the mixture of the leather concentrated towards the forefoot and the soft synthetic in other areas creating a package that is perfectly-fitting straight out of the box - and even more so once broken in after a few wears. The soleplate prioritises comfort over raw speed in its flexibility and simplicity and the stripped back nature of the whole boot will mean that it is appealing to many defenders.
It's also a cheaper option that many of its counterparts, too, making them a low-cost option that refuses to compromise on quality or style.
Best for midfielders
The Adidas Predator Elite is undoubtedly the greatest ever produced in the iconic line, offering the most up-to-date and relevant cleat possible. They're light, maintain the classic Predator elements and are a joy to play in.
While they no longer feature the leather that once made them so loved, the tongue has returned in expert fashion while the rubber striking elements make these perfect for midfielders - and my pick of the best soccer cleats for midfielders. There's a clean striking zone and more control in every touch of the ball or pass, perfect for those pulling the strings in the middle of the park.
Underfoot, there's an improved soleplate and stud pattern to further benefit players covering every blade of grass. I found it easy to channel my inner David Beckham while wearing these beauties - I'm sure you will, too.
The Puma King has a legitimate claim to being the model to have been worn by the greatest players. Johan Cruyff, Pele and Diego Maradona all rewrote history while wearing a pair of Puma Kings.
The modern Puma King is a very different cleat to the ones worn by those legends but in the King Ultimate Puma have a cleat that strikes a lot of the right notes. It is the first King to feature a synthetic upper – one that Puma is calling K-Better. K-Better is soft, pliable and stretchy so does the job of replicating the leather the brand has left behind as well as one can expect.
The supremely talented Xavi Simons steps onto the pitch in these and this epitomises Puma’s attempts to bring the cleat forward into the next generation. On the evidence of the Puma King Platinum, they may well be successful in this aim.
Best for wingers
A cleat that has been four years in the making, the Puma Ultra 5 Carbon is so incredibly technologically advanced that they feel super-futuristic, and firmly earns a spot when it comes to the best soccer cleats for wingers.
The Pwrtape SQD support frame helps provide a more custom moulded fit when broken-in, which helps make the upper pliable, soft and comfortable. They're also ultra-thin and super lightweight, provides a barefoot feel on the ball and the GripControl Pro skin texturing feels very gritty to touch and helps provide extra grip when dribbling – great for wingers looking to jink past their opponents.
Comfort isn't a problem, either, as can be the case with many carbon fibre soleplates. Naturally, there's a rigid feedback, but Puma has done an excellent job in ensuring the cleat is still nice to wear underfoot.
There's nothing better than lacing up a pair of cleats and forgetting they're on your feet due to how lightweight and minimalist they are - and the Adidas X Crazyfast+ certainly falls into that category. Though the minimalism comes at a slight expense to the structure and lockdown I would ordinarily prefer, what truly stands out is the upper design and aggressive soleplate.
Indeed, the stud configuration meant pushing off from a standing start was so much easier, while twisting and turning ensured that my sharp dribbling was elevated even more on the field. And with the upper so thin, you're offered a barefoot sensation that allows for ball manipulation to become even easier.
I thoroughly enjoyed playing in these cleats while hugging the touchline, with the Crazyfast+ providing me with the confidence to beat defenders in any race as well as cut inside to deliver devastating crosses and finishes. They're also one of the best lightweight soccer cleats, such is their minimal construction and design.
Best for strikers
Everything you'd expect it to be, the Nike Mercurial Superfly 10 Elite is lightweight, thin and oh-so-speedy. Nike's Gripknit upper gets a huge thumbs up from me, which provides a grippy, barefoot feel.
One area that is perhaps surprising, though, is the comfort. In the past, the Mercurial model has needed a considerable amount of breaking-in time, but this latest model feels like it could be used straight of a box and into a game - it's that comfortable.
The heel is well cushioned, with the atomknit material, which is an evolved version of flyknit used on Nike’s running shoes, providing a very comfortable on-foot experience. In conjunction with the gripknit used on the Superfly's upper, this helps to provide a brilliant one-to-one experience when it comes to touch on the ball, as well as a stretchier fit that can conform and accommodate a larger range of foot types.
Underfoot, the aggressive stud pattern makes them one of the best soccer cleats for firm ground, too.
While most speed cleats tend to fit more snugly, the Skechers Razor is much more accommodating for those with wide feet, as the brand appears to be attempting to carve out a niche within the best soccer cleats for speed category with a wider fitting, more comfortable alternative. This does not come at the expense of the lightness that is expected from a speed cleat as the Skechers Razor is also extremely lightweight.
The stud pattern on the soleplate is very aggressive, consisting entirely of chevron studs for the traction needed when taking off at high speed. It also features a carbon fibre insert for that extra bit of stability and responsiveness, and is a reason why I firmly believe they're one of the best soccer cleats for strikers.
In terms of the latter, it does lack a little in this regard compared to other speed cleats, with Skechers opting for more flexibility as part of a greater emphasis on comfort. Disappointingly, there is no dedicated AG or SG option for the Skechers Razor at the moment, though.
Best for wide feet
Manchester City’s Phil Foden, Rodri, Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne can be seen taking it in turns to torment opposition defenders with the GX on their feet. They are one of the best-looking cleats of the year and these have all the hallmarks of a future classic.
The Nike Phantom GX Elite boasts arguably the best piece of innovation in the boot market of 2023 with its sticky Gripknit upper geared towards greater control of the ball. The soleplate is excellent, combining agility and stability in a way that allows the craftsmen among us to flourish.
What places them at the top of the best soccer cleats for wide feet, though, is the soleplate. It's flexible and stretchy, helping players slip straight into these with ease, comfort and a certain elegance that most other options on the market unfortunately don't offer. That soleplate flexibility also earns the Phantom GX a spot in my picks for the best soccer cleats for flat feet.
Nike has opted to move away from leather uppers on one of its most historic models. This is a major change and has also accompanied a shift in Nike’s positioning of the cleat, though it remains one of the better options for defenders on the market.
In the place of the kangaroo leather that has made up the upper of all of the previous elite Tiempo models is Flytouch Plus, a material made to recreate the fit and feel of natural leather. The new upper is soft and flexible enough to suit defenders who are primarily concerned with ease of wear rather than the raw speed on offer from more lightweight models.
While synthetic materials don't necessarily offer the best option for players with wide feet, that's certainly not the case when it comes to the Nike Tiempo Legend 10 Elite.
Best for women
The Nike Phantom Luna is a cleat that is significant in that it is the first released by the brand designed for women (while also being suitable for men). And while there aren't loads of specifically-designed options, there's still a good selection when it comes to the best soccer cleats for women.
The 360 cyclone soleplate is built to aid rotational traction to combat the increased tendency for serious knee injuries in the women’s game. Add all of this to a comfortable flyknit upper a great design and you get a cleat that is a great option for those who want to try something new but still want to stick with the most tried and trusted brand out there.
Best for speed
As the name suggests, the New Balance Furon V7+ Pro is a slight update on the Furon V7 – but a slight update is all that was needed on what was already one of the best speed cleats available. New Balance has a very strong claim to having the best current roster of cleats outside of Nike and Adidas, with Hypoknit material my favourite knit upper of all brands.
The one-piece construction with a knitted upper has been a popular formula amongst brands for several years and the quality of these knitted materials is generally good without any necessarily standing out dramatically. With the Hypoknit material that forms the upper of the Furon V7+ (and the Tekela V4+), New Balance may have just have that standout, though. Wonderfully comfortable straight from the box and requiring no break-in time, the Furon V7+ Pro is soft, flexible and completely faithful to all of the movements of your feet. It is also thin and allows you to feel completely at one with the ball.
Traction is aided by the aggressive soleplate, which features heavily angled chevron studs throughout for a level of traction that is essential for a good speed cleat, while the outsole is responsive while also possessing flexibility where needed.
The brand has slowly crept further into mainstream consciousness is recent years aided in no small part to partnering with Sergio Ramos – who can now be seen wreaking havoc all over Spain and in Europe with Sevilla in a pair of Mizuno Alphas.
The Mizuno Alpha MIJ is the latest speed cleat released by the Japanese brand and reaches the extremely high levels that have come to be expected from them. The upper is about as comfortable as it gets from a synthetic material and still manages to be extremely lightweight.
Best value for money
In October Kane exclusively told FourFourTwo: "We started talking about six months ago. Skechers contacted me and my team, and told us about what they wanted to do. I’ve been really impressed with them. I’m really proud to be the face of the cleats, and I’m happy I’ve been scoring goals in them already. I think it was a surprise to a lot of people around the soccer world to see Skechers come into the market, but I think that's what makes it so exciting."
The Skechers SKX 01 came into the market with a bang. These were first teased and then released in a mystery prototype version seen on the feet of Harry Kane before a massive launch with the England captain as its face. The hype this created could have made it difficult for the cleats to match but the SKX 01 has managed to stick the landing excellently.
The upper is covered with sticky Precise Strike Control texturing the aid control and grip on the ball the no frills soleplate does the job. These are also slightly cheaper than pairs from some of the more established cleat brands so are more than worth a try.
These need absolutely no introduction. Your dad swears there has never been a better cleat before or since but then again so does your teenage nephew. Neither of them is very far from the truth. These simply do the job. A full kangaroo leather upper is something that is not all that common in today’s soccer cleat world, making the Copa Mundial all the more attractive as an option for a ‘new’ option.
The massive saving compared to most modern cleats also means it is hard to argue with this most tried and tested of options.
They're always ranked within our picks of the best Adidas soccer cleats, with the tradition and comfort simply too hard to ignore.
Best for comfort
An upgrade on the previous Future Ultimate, the new model is a lot more comfortable straight out of the box thanks to the the placement of Puma's Pwrtape technology. Whereas the previous model featured Pwrtape along the sides of the boot, in the Puma Future 7 Ultimate it is concentrated more centrally with the extra pressure felt on the top of the foot. I found this a lot more comfortable to play in, while I still felt the benefits of the technology keeping my feet locked down and stable.
Fitting fairly wide, I found that these cleats are perfect for players with wide feet, while the upper being made from Puma's Fuzionfit360 material means they'll stretch slightly over time due to how soft and pliable they are.
How we test soccer cleats
We put each pair through its paces for several sessions across all surfaces to determine their true level of performance across key factors including comfort, stability, fit and feel. This also allows us to balance them against the claims from brands about new features and technology.
If a brand says that a new aspect of its soleplate means you will be able to push off faster or a new synthetic upper is just as comfortable as leather – we will test to see how accurate this really is.
Each pair is tested by an expert member of the team who lives and breathes soccer cleats, and are therefore able to cut through the marketing minefield and provide simple yet detailed advice for all players regardless of level.
In depth knowledge of the market means that factors that are important to consumers like value for money will always be flagged.
How to choose the best soccer cleats
The soccer cleat market can be a bit of a minefield at the best of times, with an array of options available and brands championing the latest tech that will have you jumping higher, running faster and never miscontrolling a ball ever again.
Ultimately, your choice should come down to what best suits you and your game. Below are some factors to consider when looking for your next pair...
Leather or synthetic
When trying to work out what pair of cleats suits you best the material of the upper is a vitally important factor to consider. There was a time when virtually all cleats were made from natural leather but these materials are slowly being phased out by many brands in favour of man-made options.
However, ample leather options remain. Leather offers a traditional fit, moulding to the shape of your feet. It is also soft, pliable and durable.
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.
Styling
This is the area where there is perhaps the greatest range with something for everyone. Most brands will offer pairs that are simpler and more traditional in look and also ones that are flashy and colourful.
Whatever your personality or preference, there are likely many pairs that complement it perfectly.
Soleplate
The soleplate is where the bulk of the technology of a cleat lives, so it is very important to consider this when choosing a pair.
‘Speed’ cleats, such as the Nike Mercurial range, feature responsive, aggressive outsoles with high levels of traction, but more traditional pairs, such as the Copa Mundial or the Nike Tiempo, are slightly lower tech and the soleplates concentrate more on comfort under foot than raw speed.
There is also surface to consider. If you play exclusively on artificial turf then an Artificial Ground (AG) specific soleplate is the best option - so checking out our guide on the best soccer cleats for artificial turf is your best bet - whereas if you are playing on turf every week then a Firm Ground (FG) pair is the best bet when it is relatively dry and a Soft Ground (SG) when it is wet or slippery.
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 cleats as the lack of laces means there is very little adaptability – they will either work for your feet or they won’t.
