The best soccer cleats for passing, as worn by the likes of Paul Pogba, Kevin De Bruyne and Zinedine Zidane
(Image credit: Adidas)
If you're a midfield maestro or a playground Pirlo, you'll want to find the best soccer cleats for passing before the new season kicks off.
Having the right cleats can make a huge difference to a player's game, with certain ranges specifically designed to assist passers, tacklers, crossers and finishers. FFT has been dedicating itself to categorising designs to make cleat shopping easier for you. If you're simply looking for the best soccer cleats of all types, be sure to check out our other reviews.
But here you'll find the best soccer cleats for passing on the market right now...
Best soccer cleats for passing: Adidas Predator Edge
(Image credit: Sports Direct)
As worn by: Paul Pogba, Toni Kroos, Bernardo Silva
The Predator is basically the Routemaster bus of soccer: a design classic that pops up in everyday life without you so much as noticing these days… and actually, the updated versions are cooler than many of the vintage models.
Controversial? Yeah, but we're going there. While old Preds were given the task of simply improving David Beckham's sweeping crosses, the Predator Edge are tailor-made for the modern baller, with panels all over to aid control, putting one top bins from 30 yards and, of course, the occasional Goldenballs-style 60-yard ping onto an attacker's toe. The Predators are well and truly in their renaissance – and we're loving it.
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Adidas Copa Sense
(Image credit: Adidas)
As worn by: Jude Bellingham, Joao Felix
Worn by the likes of Jude Bellingham and Joao Felix – delicate passers by trade – the Copa Sense is a Rolls Royce of a soccer cleat. These cleats are immensely comfortable and perfect for any player who prides themselves on their first touch. They look hella cool – whatever colour you get them in – and are covered in soft touch pods, designed to help you ping the ball around with he casual air of Jan Molby in his pomp. Faultless.
As worn by: Zinedine Zidane, Steven Gerrard, David Beckham, Frank Lampard
These retro beauties were introduced ahead of the 2002 World Cup and were worn by all the great midfielders of the time.
The original design of the cleat, from the power zones to the thick, soft leather remains completely untouched in this recently re-released version. As with the Predator Pulse cleats – which were also re-released last year – the only change is that the heel from recent Predator models has been added to give some sturdiness to the cleat. The greatest passers of the past 20 years revelled in Predator Manias – now you can too.
One for refereeing officials, the old guard and hipsters alike, there's simply nothing like the Copa Mundial soccer cleats, no matter how many times Adidas reinvent the wheel.
For the sheer comfort, nostalgia and reliability, it's virtually impossible to top these brilliant cleats, which still look as wonderful now as they did on black and white TV sets. The Adidas Copa Mundial is an icon – and if you're a soccer nerd, you deserve a pair of these at least once in your lifetime. The soft K-leather helps control passes with cloud-like comfort and the wider, flatter design gives you pitching-wedge like control over your long and short range passes.
2006 was a simpler time (unless your name is Marco Materazzi). A time of Gnarls Barkley, Daniel Craig in Casino Royale and Zinedine Zidane rolling back the years to pirouette around the world… wearing Adidas Predator Pulse cleats.
You can still get them. Adi have re-released the Pulses complete with a more robust heel but otherwise true to the original design, from the oversized tongue and soft leather body to the three stripes wrapping under the sole and the instep panels that resemble scratch marks left by claws. It's one of the most beautiful cleats in history – and available in brand new colourways – and an icon of the midfield playmaker range.
As explained in FFT's Nike Tiempo Legend 9 soccer cleats review, these cleats are among the most versatile on the market, and despite being built for attackers, are won by a host of midfielders and luxury defenders.
That's because, while light and offering great traction, they're more durable than many of their peers and are covered in pass-assisting touch pods. The soft leather is a dream for the first touch and they look absolutely mustard. Made of tough, yet soft, K-leather and ideal for players with wider feet, the Tiempo Legend 9 is a strong choice for playmakers who are adept at getting on the ball and wreaking havoc.
Ed is a staff writer at FourFourTwo, working across the magazine and website. A German speaker, he’s been working as a football reporter in Berlin since 2015, predominantly covering the Bundesliga and Germany's national team. Favourite FFT features include an exclusive interview with Jude Bellingham following the youngster’s move to Borussia Dortmund in 2020, a history of the Berlin Derby since the fall of the Wall and a celebration of Kevin Keegan’s playing career.
