If your child has outgrown their football boots, through wear and tear, or are simply in desperate need of brand a new pair, then you're in luck as we've detailed the best football boots for kids.
It's essential that children's football boots fit correctly and aren't too battered or bruised, otherwise there could be a detrimental impact on their performance or enjoyment of the game. Fortunately, FFT has been dedicating itself to categorising a range of different boots to make shopping that little bit easier for you. If you're simply looking for the best football boots out right now - or the best boots available for under £100 - be sure to check out our other reviews.
But here you'll find the best football boots specifically for kids looking to become the world-beaters of tomorrow.
The quicklist
Children's football boots are often overlooked when it comes to high quality materials, but Adidas has finally started provided options that are as close to the elite adult versions as possible. The Adidas Kids Predator Elite is now an exceptional replica.
By managing to implement the super-thin upper onto the kids version of the Vapor 16, Nike has created something incredibly lightweight. Players will feel virtually weightless in these boots and be able to cover every blade of grass.
Providing a barefoot feel thanks to the thin upper, control on the ball has become easier thanks to the grippy texturing implemented as well. There's some decent traction underfoot on the Puma Kids Ultra 5 Pro as well.
Combining a lightweight feel with high-quality material, the kids version of the Adidas F50 closely resemble what the professionals wear in the elite version. They're light as a feather and offer users a great touch.
A takedown model that doesn't feature quite the same quality materials and build structure, the Nike Kids Phantom GX 2 Academy still has some decent performance levels thanks to the upper and soleplate. They're more affordable than other options, too.
Best overall
I'm a huge fan of Adidas' decision to utilise the same premium materials used on the adult equivalent Adidas Predator Elite, with the iconic boot done justice for your child.
Indeed, with Adidas' soft hybridtouch upper, rubber elements and same folding tongue all incorporated into this boot, there's really no difference whatsoever to one of the best football boots for midfielders. Plus, while they're fairly expensive for children, they're still available at a fraction of the price of the adult version.
There is slightly less coverage from the rubber elements, but the fact there's still a folding tongue ensures there's a clean striking zone to improve accuracy. The soleplate has that bite in the traction phase I always look for, while still providing good manouverability in sharp changes of direction. All in all, a very strong option.
Best lightweight
Perfect for the next generation of Kylian Mbappes, the Nike Kids Mercurial Vapor 16 Pro provide a true one-to-one sensation between foot and ball, thanks to the brilliant Gripknit upper technology and sock-like construction - the same materials used on the Nike Mercurial Superfly 10 Elite.
These boots have already proven themselves in the adult game, as one of the best football boots for speed on the market. But they will also help your kids find an extra yard of pace with the aggressive soleplate offering great traction to help speed away from opposition defenders.
Nike's Speed Cage lining inside the upper ensures this lightweight feeling doesn't come at the expense of stability. This provides the perfect level of structure so players can feel supported at all times inside the boot.
Best for dribbling
Puma has developed its thin and lightweight ultraweave technology onto the upper of the Kids Ultra 5 Pro, helping provide a barefoot feel to get even closer to the ball. There is a noticeable grippy texture, called grip control pro, sitting on top to ensure slightly more control over the ball, and is a feature I certainly welcome .
The boots also have wonderfully and uniquely angled studs that also form the snappy and responsive soleplate on the adult version of the Puma Ultra 5 Ultimate, highlighting the crossover between models. Puma's speedplate has a springy design that provides good energy return when pushing off from a standing start, too.
I would prefer to see the boots made specifically so that I can rank them against the best football boots for astro turf, however, because I find the aggressive nature of the stud pattern poses a risk too great on artificial grass.
Best quality
Boots created for kids are quite often simply lower tech versions of the adult design. Kids feet grow quickly and the merits of splurging the kind of money that elite adult boots cost are limited. Yet, the Adidas F50 Elite, is a different beast: a junior boot that still has much of the cutting-edge technology available to the world’s best players.
Utilising the brand's super lightweight Aerocage skeleton and the thin, semi-translucent Aeropacity upper, the Adidas Kids F50 Pro are lightweight but they manage to maintain an adequate structure. In these boots your young star will be flying away at speed with very little weighing them down - without sacrificing any support.
What's more, the soleplate is the snappy, ultra responsive one that Adidas use across the F50 range. A plastic insert through the midfoot gives the boot a great energy return and a mix of bladed and chevron boots provides significant traction and aggression.
Best for versatility
As a takedown model in Nike's range of football boots, there are other options in this list that feature better quality materials than the Nike Kids Phantom GX 2 Academy, but that's not to diminish the soft, flexible and comfortable upper that is balanced brilliantly with a decent soleplate.
With a multi-ground soleplate featuring on these boots, it'll save you the need to buy multiple pairs for different surfaces. This particular version is suitable - and safe - to wear on both astro turf and grass, with a mixture of chevron and conical studs providing a balance between aggression and stability at all times.
I love the Nike Phantom GX 2 Elite, so, even though this kids boot is a takedown model, the main characteristics remain largely intact. If you're after a cheaper option for your young star in the making, I'd highly recommend taking a look at these.
How we test football boots
We put every pair through its paces across several sessions on all surfaces to determine their true level of performance. We mark them on key factors including comfort, stability, fit and feel. This also allows us to balance them against the claims from brands on new features and the latest technology.
We will always test thoroughly to see just how accurate each claim really is. Each pair we review is tested by an expert member of the team who lives and breathes football boots, and therefore can cut through the marketing minefield and provide simple yet detailed advice for players of all levels.
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 football boots
The football boot market can be tricky to navigate 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 controlling a ball with inch-perfect precision.
Ultimately, your choice of boot 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 football boots suits your child best, the material of the upper is a vitally important factor to consider. In years gone by virtually all boots were made from natural leather, but these materials are slowly being phased out by many brands in favour of lighter, synthetic options.
With leather not as common, leather-imitating synthetics have taken precedence in that area of the market. Often lightweight, these still retain a great level of comfort and pliability that leather offers. But they will also look to provide the same close-touch to the ball that ultra lightweight synthetic materials do.
Styling
This is the area of perhaps the greatest range for players, with something for everyone. Most brands will offer pairs that offer a simpler, more traditional look and also extravagant designs that are flashy and colourful.
Regardless of your own style, there are a range of pairs to complement it perfectly, giving you a unique image on the pitch.
Soleplate
Soleplates often feature an array of different designs and technologies, with brands attempting to produce in the most-innovative ways possible to deliver performance.
‘Speed boots', such as Nike's Mercurial range, will 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 focuses more on comfort under foot than all-out speed.
It is also worth considering the surface you normally play on. If you play exclusively on artificial ground then an Artificial Ground (AG) specific soleplate is the best option, 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
Getting your child to try on a pair first before purchasing is something we'd highly recommend. This is because brands often vary in sizing. For example, what might be perfect in Adidas boots could well prove too small in an option from Nike.
Ensuring correct sizing is a must, because if they're not there's the potential for a negative affect on performance. Too tight and there's potential for causing foot trauma; too loose and blisters might flare up as your child's foot slides around in the boot.
Plus, foot shape is highly personal. Some boots are particularly narrow and will be unsuitable for players with wider feet. Equally, wider-fitting boots can feel slightly awkward for those with narrow feet.
This is especially important if considering a pair of laceless boots as the lack of laces means there is very little adaptability – they will either work for your child's feet or they won’t.
