The best football boots are the boots that suit your foot, your surface and your budget. A model that fits one player like a glove pinches another. So there is no number one for everyone, but there is a fixed route to the right boot.
Below you work through that route in three steps. Start with the foot, because fit is where most buyers go wrong.
Fit depends on four things: the last (width and volume), how far you can open the boot with laces and tongue, the material and how the size runs per model. Leather stretches, synthetic hardly does. That is why the same size feels good in one model and wrong in another.
Measure your length and width first, ideally in the evening and in your playing socks. How to do that is in our guide to how to measure your foot width. Never go up a size to gain width: that mostly adds length, with a heel that starts to slip.
With a wide foot you look for a model with a wider last or a material that gives. In our assessments that mainly means the Nike Phantom 6 and Tiempo Maestro, Puma King 20, adidas Copa and Mizuno Morelia. The Nike Tiempo Maestro is wide in the midfoot and heel but has a low toe box. Our main page on the best football boots for wide feet goes through them in detail.
With a narrow foot the speed models, such as the Nike Mercurial, adidas F50 and Puma Ultra, suit better. See football boots for narrow feet. For a high instep or flat feet, choose a model with laces and a separate tongue, and leave the laceless versions on the shelf.
Step 2: choose the soleplate for your surface
The letters on the soleplate say what the boot is made for. FG is for natural grass, AG for modern 3G and 4G pitches, MG is a compromise for grass and artificial pitches, and TF is for short-pile astro and hard surfaces. In a wet British winter you may also come across SG, which is for properly soft, muddy grass. If you mostly play on 3G, AG is usually the logical choice.
The surface is a filter on the version, not on the model name. Not every colourway of a top model comes in AG, and junior versions of the lower tiers are often only sold as MG, TF or indoor. All the letters are set out in our guide to which soleplate to choose.
Step 3: choose the tier that suits your budget
Within a line there are several versions, at Nike for example Elite, Pro, Academy and Club. The top is the lightest and dearest, the entry level is stiffer and plainer. According to our sources the Pro versions keep much of the technology of the Elite.
Lower versions often have a thicker upper that gives less, so they can feel tighter. So always try them on rather than trusting the size of a dearer sibling. Our page on cheap wide fit football boots shows which lower tiers keep a wide last.
Wide fit is the core of this site. These are the models our fit assessment rates highest for a wide foot. The verdicts come from manufacturer information, fit notes from retailers and player experiences, as explained on our methodology page. The list at the top of this page shows the five best scoring models.
Try the boot on at home, on a clean floor, with the socks you play in. Lace it up, shift your weight forward and check whether your toes touch the front. If you rise on your toes, your heel must not lift.
With tingling toes, thick socks or feet that swell during a match, most guides lean up. Only with leather that still stretches and a roomy forefoot is going down an option. Our size converter shows UK, EU and US sizes side by side, and the page on how football boots should fit says more.
Do you not want to go through every step yourself? Enter your foot measurements, surface and any complaints in the football boot adviser. You get a short list of models that suit your foot. If you have pain that does not go away, see a podiatrist or your GP.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best football boots?
That differs per player. The best boot suits your foot width, your surface (FG, AG, MG or TF) and your budget. A famous top model that is too narrow scores worse for you than a simpler model with the right last.
What makes good football boots?
Good football boots feel firm without pinching, keep your heel in place and have the soleplate that belongs to your pitch. Price and brand say little about that. Always try them on in your playing socks.
Which football boots should I buy?
Measure your foot first, then choose the soleplate for your surface and only then a version that fits your budget. With a wide foot, start with models with a wider last and a leather or soft upper. If you are between two sizes, try both.
Which football boots suit me?
It depends on length, width, instep height and how you play. The football boot adviser combines these with our fit ratings, so you end up with a shortlist instead of hundreds of boots.
Which football boots are good for wide feet?
Look at models with a wider last, such as the Nike Phantom 6, Puma King 20, adidas Copa or Mizuno Morelia. Leather gives more than synthetic. A laceless boot is usually the worst choice for a wide foot.
Is there one best football boot?
There is no ranking that is right for every foot. A speed model is often comfortable on a narrow foot and too tight on a wide one. Compare on fit, not only on fame.
What are the best football boots for kids?
For kids the right size with growing room and the soleplate for the pitch they play on count most. Re-measure the foot regularly and do not buy boots that are too big.