For soccer cleats by position, position is a pointer, not a deciding factor. Guides link goalkeepers to comfort and grip, defenders to classic models, midfielders to agile models and forwards to light speed cleats. The same guides say fit, comfort and surface count for more than where you play on the field.
A note on the source: these position tips come from retailers and blogs, not from research. We report them for what they are, and we add what they mean for a wide foot.
Soccer cleats by position: what do the guides say?
| Position | Direction according to guides | Models mentioned |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Comfort and grip | Tiempo, Copa |
| Defender | Classic and comfortable; fast defenders may consider a speed model | Tiempo, Copa; Mercurial, F50, Ultra |
| Midfielder | Agile, good feel for the ball | F50, Phantom, New Balance Furon |
| Forward | Light and fast | F50, Mercurial, Morelia |
The guides do not line up with each other completely. Treat the table as a starting point for a shortlist, nothing more.
How do you choose soccer cleats for midfielders?
For midfielders, guides name the adidas F50, the Nike Phantom and the New Balance Furon. Those are three very different cleats: the F50 and the Furon run narrow to standard, the Phantom is roomy. So position does not point you to a fit.
If you have a wide foot, the Phantom 6 is the only one of the three that runs wide, according to our fit ratings. See Nike wide soccer cleats. The F50 Hyperfast and the Furon v9 are narrow models.
Which soccer cleats suit goalkeepers?
Goalkeepers get the same direction in the guides: comfort and grip, with the Tiempo and Copa as named models. A dedicated goalkeeper cleat is not described in our sources. For a wide foot that is a happy coincidence, since the Tiempo and Copa belong to the wider models. For the details, see Nike Tiempo vs adidas Copa.
Soccer cleats for defenders and forwards
For defenders, guides name classic, comfortable models such as the Tiempo and Copa. If the defender is fast, speed models such as the Mercurial, F50 and Ultra are an option. Forwards are mostly pointed to light speed cleats: F50, Mercurial and Morelia.
Those speed models run narrow. Read what applies to a wide foot first before you choose on position, for example in how should soccer cleats fit. One exception in the forward list is the Mizuno Morelia II, which has a wider last and suits both wide and narrow feet, though its toe box is low.
Why does fit count for more than position?
The same guides admit that position matters less than fit, comfort and surface. A forward with a wide foot gets more out of a cleat that fits than out of a cleat that matches his position. A cleat that pinches costs you more on the field than a few grams of weight.
That goes for the soleplate as well. A midfielder on artificial grass needs a different soleplate than one on natural grass, whatever the position. See which soleplate: FG, AG, MG, TF, IN or SG for a plain-language explanation.
How do you use position as a tiebreaker?
First measure your foot with the foot width guide and let the cleat finder draw up a shortlist. Position can then serve as a tiebreaker: if two cleats fit equally well, choose the one that matches how you play. A forward who values low weight can look at a narrow speed model if his foot allows it. A defender who values comfort can look at the Tiempo or Copa lines. If your foot is wide, the wide models come first and position comes second.
If you have pain that lasts longer than a few weeks, see a podiatrist. We give fit advice, not medical advice.