The Best Soccer Cleats, Balls, Goals, and More, According to The Athletic’s Experts – The New York Times

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November 25, 2022
Whether you’re a football fanatic or a more casual soccer fan like me (a very disillusioned Sunderland supporter), chances are you’re excitedly following the 2022 FIFA World Cup. This year’s iteration in Qatar is already a thriller, and The Athletic is on the case with round-the-clock coverage of every match.
But while the World Cup focuses our attention on the game’s biggest stars and stirs our national pride, the beauty of the beautiful game is that it doesn’t take much money or setup to play. Grassroots soccer—whether it’s youth soccer, local adult leagues, or just taking practice shots with friends in an empty lot—is where the majority of the game is played.
To get the lowdown on the best ways to kit up both on and off the field, we turned to the experts at The Athletic UK. (Like Wirecutter, The Athletic is part of The New York Times Company.) The Athletic’s experts are journalists (and, in some cases, ex-professional players) who live, breathe, and sweat football (definitely not “soccer”). Read on for their personal recommendations on the best balls, boots, gloves, and more.
Forza 12 X 6 Proflex Pop Up Soccer Goal ($170 at the time of publication)
Portable, easy-to-assemble soccer goals bring the pitch to the back garden or the park and make the experience of kicking a ball so much more fun—not least because there are no more “That was in!” arguments.
This particular model, available through Net World Sports (and directly from Forza), ticks all the boxes and is suitable for children aged 47 and under. In addition to looking the part (anything other than rectangular side-netting belongs to another era), you don’t have to be a DIY expert to work out how to put the goal up and take it down. Plus, the net is so taut that the ball bounces back to you when you score, so it’s great for practising your shooting if nobody else is around to go in goal—or, in my case, when the kids are at school.
—Stuart James, former pro footballer and senior writer for The Athletic
Mitre Impel Max Training Soccer Ball ($19 for size three at the time of publication)
Ok, sure: This isn’t the flashy 2022-2023 Premier League ball everyone’s been (rightly) drooling over. And yes, the Impel Max looks different to the classic Mitre ball many of us have come to associate with our childhoods. But if you’re after a ball for training that needs to stand up to hitting the fence a few (thousand) times and still hold its shape while being as light and work-able/swazz-able/curl-able as the top-end range—here you have it.
Mitre, undefeated champs. They know what they’re doing.
—Tom Alington, performance marketing manager for The Athletic
Nike Jr. Tiempo Legend 9 Academy MG ($55 at the time of publication)
Obviously, my son wanted bright pink, orange, or white boots. And obviously he got plain black Nike Jr. Tiempo Legend 9 Academy ones instead!
These boots are all black (though they also come in white with yellow and orange accents), a really good value (he needs a pair for home and one for school, so this is important), and unisex.
He can have multicoloured boots when he makes his Premier League debut.
—Laura Williamson, deputy editor for The Athletic
Nike Premier 3 FG ($110 at the time of publication)
Forget Manchester United versus Liverpool, Boca Juniors versus River Plate, and Rangers versus Celtic. One rivalry rises above them all. Every football fan around the world belongs to one of two tribes: Adidas or Nike.
Growing up in the early 2000s, Nike reigned supreme. They had boot deals with the world’s best players, including Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney, and Ronaldinho. I briefly flirted with Adidas Predators when David Beckham strutted around in them at Real Madrid, but the variety in colour and design of Nike’s boots always forced me to return to them.
The black Nike Premier 3 FG boots are not as fancy as some of Nike’s other models, but they still look sleek and, most important, are comfortable and reliable. Whether you want to fly into tackles, nutmeg a defender, or chip the goalkeeper, this pair is your best option.
—Jay Harris, football writer for The Athletic
Gain The Edge Grip Socks 2.0 Midcalf Length ($10 at the time of publication)
Ever wondered why the pros often have a patch of white sock just above their boots? Well here’s your answer. Introducing the biggest innovation since Johan Cruyff turned around: the grip socks. They’re like regular sports socks, only with little rubber circles on the sole that keep your foot in place while you’re doing your stepovers and rabonas. But these aren’t just for the Vinícius Júniors of the world; we’ve seen defenders and even goalkeepers donning these socks across amateur leagues this season.
Quite a few companies have tried to jump on the sticky socks bandwagon, but Gain The Edge makes high-quality socks and offers well-priced bundle options. Top tip: To accommodate the extra layer of fabric, you need to be prepared to wear cuts (regular long socks with the fabric cut off above the ankle).
—Tom Alington, performance marketing manager for The Athletic
Boot Buddy 2.0 ($20 at the time of publication)
You know the teammate that you avoid in the changing room? The one that still has last week’s mud on his boots and is stinking up the place? If you don’t know that teammate, I’m afraid it might be you.
Here’s where Boot Buddy 2.0 can help you—or your teammate—not only reduce smell but help your boots last longer. Fill it up with water, and the brushes and high-pressure water clean boots in minutes, making it a fantastic addition to the kit bag for players and parents alike.
—Tom Alington, performance marketing manager for The Athletic
Adidas Predator Edge Fingersave Match Gloves ($40 at the time of publication)
I was 11 or 12 years old when I decided I was going to go all in on being a goalkeeper and needed to buy my first pair of gloves.
That day I must have tried on gloves from almost every brand in the store, but none of them felt right—until I tried on a new pair by Adidas called the Predator Edge Fingersave Match Gloves. My dad wasn’t thrilled at the price, but like several fathers out there, he wanted his son to be happy and asked the salesman to bring out the gloves. I tried them on, and my face lit up. This was the pair for me.
Though the first iteration was made out of what felt like durable cardboard, today the quality has improved significantly, and the durability of the gloves is much better. The Fingersave gloves are no longer made of a flimsy material, but rather bendable plastic, allowing the fingers to stay supportive yet flexible at the same time. The extra support in the Fingersave gloves has a natural bend that assists in catching the ball while being slightly restrictive in its movement. This means your fingers won’t drift in and out of place as often, reducing the risk of jammed or (worst case scenario) broken fingers.
Though they aren’t often used in the professional ranks these days, Adidas Predator Edge Fingersave Match Gloves still serve a valuable purpose for goalkeepers at the youth level. Other brands have created their own versions in the past decade or two, but to this day no one does it better than Adidas.
—Matt Pyzdrowski, former pro goalkeeper and now goalkeeper analyst for The Athletic
Uhlsport Speed Contact Absolutgrip Finger Surround Goalkeeper Gloves (about $105 at the time of publication)
Throughout my playing and coaching career, I have tried nearly every single major brand and cut of goalkeeper gloves on the market. The biggest problem I often ran into was that every time it felt like I had found a pair of gloves that I liked, the next year or two the brand would discontinue the cut and style.
It wasn’t until later in my career, when I was introduced to German brand Uhlsport, that I finally found a durable glove that I loved. Marketed as the brand for goalkeepers, Uhlsport has one of the most expansive selections of goalkeeping gloves on the market.
The Supergrip line is what most of the professionals use today, but they are on the expensive end, with prices up to $200, and like many of the top models, they aren’t super durable. I prefer the comfort and fit of the gloves in the Absolutgrip line. They form snugly to your hand, with good support in the wrist, but they are still flexible and sturdy in the fingers. The grip on the Absolutgrip gloves is nearly as good as that of the Supergrip gloves, but they will last two or three times longer. Topping out at about $120, the Absolutgrip line offers much better gloves and better return for your money.
—Matt Pyzdrowski, former pro goalkeeper and now goalkeeper analyst for The Athletic
G-Form Pro-S Shin Guards ($25 at the time of publication)
Shin pads are probably the least thrilling discussion point when it comes to your football stash, but without them, you aren’t playing. The trend with most professional footballers is to find the smallest shin pads possible (mainly for comfort) or to personalise them with pictures of themselves or their family. I recommend you invest in some that primarily protect your shins but still offer the comfort you need to play your best.
G-Form’s Pro-S are innovative sleeve-style soccer shin guards that provide exactly that: impact protection and comfort. Constructed with a snug and durable sleeve, they allow you to withstand the nastiest tackles while never again worrying about your guards shifting or falling out of place. You’ll forget you’re even wearing them.
—Sam Richardson, visual designer for The Athletic
Miss Kick Sports Headbands (from $3 at the time of publication)
Whether you want to be the next Jack Grealish or Alex Morgan, it’s important that your hair doesn’t get in the way. Obviously, lots of players (young and old) like to wear a headband for effect, but it does have a very practical use, too—particularly for little girls with long hair flying all over the place.
Lots of the major sports brands make thin, elastic headbands in great colours and patterns, but I like these from Miss Kick. Some of the bands have a positive message on them, you can get adult or kid sizes, and the company says a small percentage of each sale goes to the Miss Kick Foundation, which provides free opportunities for girls to get into sport.
—Laura Williamson, deputy editor for The Athletic
Saturdays Football Accelerator T-Shirt ($30 at the time of publication)
Saturdays Football is cool. That is a fact. So don’t embarrass yourself wearing dead garments from your local supermarket. Check out this t-shirt celebrating the iconic Adidas Predator Accelerator boots of 1998.
Sported by the superstars of the 1998 World Cup—Zidane, Del Piero, Kluivert, and, of course, Beckham—these boots were leading the way in football innovation, incorporating rubber patches or strips on the top of the shoe, designed to increase friction between the boot and the ball. They were the weapon of choice for some of the world’s dead-ball specialists, and everyone wanted them.
Lots of football merch can look extremely tacky, and often it’s made from nasty polyester, leaving you sweaty and uncomfortable while you try and enjoy watching the game in your local sports bar. Fear not: This 100% cotton beauty will keep you fresh as a daisy while you sip on a cold one, and with it being black you can hide any unfortunate spillages from the inevitable wild celebrations.
Check out that dusty pink—it’s beautiful. Most important, you can wear this T-shirt with pride all year round without being underdressed. Maybe give it a miss for your family weddings, though.
—Sam Richardson, visual designer for The Athletic
“Diego” by Jimmy Turrell (from about $45 at the time of publication)
Finding football art that you can hang in your living room without making it look like a 12-year-old’s bedroom is a challenge. But thankfully there is something that will be approved for pride of place in your humble abode.
Jimmy Turrell combines a love of handmade collage, drawing, screen printing, and painting to create some truly stunning pieces. The highlight of his portfolio is “Diego,” a work that pays homage to the maverick and magician of the game, Diego Maradona, a man worshipped in his homeland of Argentina as well as Naples, Italy.
It belongs in a gallery … or hanging proudly in any true football fan’s home. Sit and admire it with friends while drinking Passalacqua espressos. (And make sure to impress them with some ’90s Serie A facts that you quickly looked up before they arrived.)
—Sam Richardson, visual designer for The Athletic
This article was edited by Erica Ogg and Ben Frumin.
Ben Keough
Ben Keough is an editor covering powering, home office, and hobbies at Wirecutter. He previously spent more than a decade writing about cameras, printers, and other office equipment for Wirecutter, Reviewed, USA Today, and Digital Camera HQ. After four years testing printers, he has confirmed that they all suck, but some suck less than others.
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