Best football boots 2023

Looking for the best football boots in 2023? Look no further: we've reviewed the latest releases from Nike, Adidas, Puma, New Balance and more.

With so many football boots on the market right now, it's important to know what you're looking for. Boots are now tailor-made for specific roles on the field – whether you're looking for boots for strikers or boots for defenders – but also for specific players, with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and even Harvey Elliott with trademark boots of their own. 

Whether you'd like something comfy for your weekly five-a-side or you take football boots a little more seriously and need a pair of the greatest football boots of all time, we've got your back… well your feet, of course.

FFT's designated boots expert

FFT's designated boots expert

Lolade Jinadu

A football shirt and boot aficionado, Lolade Jinadu has over 40,000 followers on Instagram and a vast collection of football boots. With all kinds of equipment ranging from retro to brand-new releases and one-off special edition boots, Lolade has tested hundreds of football boots over the years from a range of brands, and has an encyclopedic knowledge of the market. 

Quick list

Let's cut to the chase, here: this is the rundown of the best football boots that you can currently buy.

The best football boots in 2023

Best overall

What you need to know: The Predator Accuracy is one of the best laceless boots on the market and one of the best Predator models of all time. 

Design: Choosing only the best bits from the previous model, the Predator Edge, the Accuracy has a strong soleplate and an improvement in those famous Predator rubber ridges and has the iconic Adidas stripes along the side, aping the look of classic models from the 1990s. This is a lightweight boot that settles in the 'control' category of footwear rather than 'power'. 

Performance: The Hybridtouch material gives the boot a more padded feel compared to most modern offerings and so offers ever-so-slightly more protection than most boots currently on the market without any excess bulk. 

Comfort: The lockdown on the Predator Accuracy is good – but the major drawback with this and any laceless boot is the absence of the adjustability that comes with laces. The Accuracy is, though, a lot less narrow than many modern boots. 

Read more: Adidas Predator Accuracy+ review

Best for strikers

What you need to know: The Nike Mercurial Superfly IX boot is the latest in a range that has been going for 25 years – and the newest model remains true to the original.

Design: Coming in a low-cut Vapor and mid-cut Superfly version, the Merc has long been considered by most as the pinnacle of the ‘speed’ boot category. The difference has little to no performance advantages and is much more of a style choice – while the Superfly IX includes an air zoom unit in the soleplate to add extra spring when pushing off and past opposition defenders. 

Performance: The FG soleplate on the Mercurial is one of the most aggressive on the market – by far the best option for anyone who plays primarily on artificial surfaces. 

Comfort: Comfort is not the primary consideration in speed boots – but these boots are narrow and so a less suitable option for anyone with slightly wider feet.

Read more: Nike Mercurial Superfly IX review

Best for wide feet

What you need to know: This year marks the first time that Puma have moved away from a natural leather upper for the boot and have instead opted for ‘K-Better’, their synthetic material created to mimic the fit and feel of kangaroo leather.

Design: This used to be a boot for the traditionalists: no-nonsense players with a touch of class. While classic design and some of the comfort remain, the lightweight, slim and narrow upper means this boot is one that is going through a very clear transition.

Performance: The soleplate isn't aggressive and the stretch of the boots isn't the same as real leather. This is a ‘heritage’ boot with characteristics that one might expect from a modern speed boot.

Comfort: The upper is soft, pliable and comfortable pretty much out of the box – but the feel of the boot isn't one of proper leather. 

Read more: Puma King Ultimate review

Best value for money

What you need to know: 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 boots, 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 football world to see Skechers come into the football market but I think that's what makes it so exciting."

Design: The boots bear some similarities to the Nike Phantom GT 1 & 2 with the shape, texture and soleplate, while the upper is made from Skechers ‘FitKnit’ material. The boot is covered in ridges, too, which are there to help with touch. 

Performance: The soleplate is not overly aggressive, so these are passable on both ground types while being better for grass. The ridges don't add too much to the boot, mind, though the SKX 01 is good enough to considered a viable, lower cost alternative to boots from the bigger brands. 

Comfort: The boot is on the lighter side and is suitable for those with wide feet. The upper is pliable and the boots are comfortable straight out of the box.

Read more: Skechers SKX 01 review

Best laceless option

What you need to know: The Tekela is New Balance’s laceless model (a laced variation is also now available), positioning itself as the boot of speedy players and sitting in the market with the Adidas X and Nike Mercurial ranges. 

Design: The design is sleek with a dimpled texturing across the whole boot and a ridged texture on the inside and outside of the boot. The upper, meanwhile, is reminiscent of some of the early knitted boots such as the Nike Superfly 4.

Performance: The soleplate is unique in its inclusion of shorter-bladed studs around the outside, while the conical studs in the forefoot combined with angular studs in the heel help facilitate quick turns without any loss of traction.

Comfort: The boot is on the lighter side and is suitable for those with wide feet. The upper is pliable and the boots are comfortable straight out of the box.

Read more: Tekela V4 Pro review

How we test football boots

Here at FourFourTwo, our boot testing procedure is all about getting boots on our feet and personally trying them out in kickabouts, training sessions and matches. Our writers test each pair over a number of weeks, in various playing conditions, in order to get a proper idea of what they're like on a football pitch. 

This is the best way to find out if boots are better suited for firmer or softer ground, what level of traction they offer and how else they're geared towards improving a player's game. We're passionate about football boots and regularly attend launch events and Q&As to get as much information as possible from manufacturers and designers before we begin. 

All of our reviews are honest (despite working with brands, nobody can "buy" a good review from us) and we always have real footballers in mind when giving recommendations.