Best Soccer Shoes for Defenders (Superior Turning Ability)

Don’t let the wrong cleats crash your game. Use superior turning ability. Use the best soccer cleats for defenders

Featured cleat: Nike Mercurial Vapor XII Elite

If you’re a defender, you’ll probably wear out your shoes quicker than any other player in your team who is not in the defensive line-up. There’s always that constant demand for changing direction quicker than the opponent to get there first to keep the other team from scoring goals. Defenders also have the most physical role among other roles on the soccer field. This puts rough treatment on your soccer shoes but is very rewarding if you’re able to defend your goal especially on a crucial game.

Defenders should be dependable wherever they’re assigned: centre-back, sweeper, full-back, and wing-back. In fact, defensive positions require nothing less than the player’s best performance to avoid costly mistakes that can leave the goalkeeper open and vulnerable to goals. Plus, winning the game is sometimes decided on how well the defensive line-up is after your team has scored a goal.

The best soccer shoes for defenders have better grip on the ground, help with speedy recovery so that the player can run back into position, and better stability for lateral movement and for quick change of direction. Having said that, the best soccer shoes for defenders are blade cleats because they’re thinner, have better grip on the ground, and provide superior turning ability. Although, blade cleats don’t have the same amount of stability that round cleats provide.

Here’s a list of the best soccer shoes for defenders (in no particular order):

1. Nike Tiempo Legend 7 Elite
2. Nike Magista Obra II FG
3. Nike Magista Opus II FG
4. Nike CTR360 Maestri III FG
5. Nike Tiempo Rio IV FG
6. Nike Phantom Venom Elite
7. Nike Mercurial Superfly 6 Elite
8. Nike Mercurial Vapor XII Elite
9. adidas F50 adizero FG
10. adidas ACE 17.1 FG

Best Soccer Shoes for Defenders with Mixed Blade

For those defenders who want better grip on the ground and quick release when running, choose the soccer shoes with mix blade and round protrusions. These cleats will give you superior support for lateral movement so you can change direction rapidly at the same time enable you to release the cleats quickly from ground at the crucial moment as you run to assist your team on a counter-attack. Mix blade and round cleats can be effectively used by a wing-back whose defensive position puts heavier emphasis on attack.

Here’s a list of the best soccer shoes with mix blade and round cleats (in no particular order):

1. adidas MESSI 16+ Pureagility FG
2. PUMA evoAccuracy 2 FG
3. PUMA evoPOWER 1.3 FG
4. PUMA evoSPEED 1.5 Tricks FG
5. Nike Tiempo Legend 7 Elite
6. Nike Tiempo Legacy III FG
7. Nike Magista Opus II FG
8. Nike Magista Obra II FG
9. Nike Mercurial Superfly 6 Elite
10. Diadora DD-NA 3 GLX 14

Did you know that a successful full-back can be effectively assigned to other roles on the soccer field?