11 Best Soccer Cleats With Ankle Support (the Ultimate List)

Updated December 3, 2023 | by

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Our topmost choices for the best soccer cleats with ankle support:

  • Synthetic: Nike Mercurial Superfly 9 — a very famous soccer cleat with a dynamic fit collar that provides compression around the ankle. Some sports medicine physicians say it has the perfect blend of comfort, flexibility, support, and shock absorption.
  • Leather: Nike Tiempo Legend 9 — a comfortable and stable leather cleat with more lateral and ankle support than most soccer cleats. Nike built it for comfort, support, and speed.

If you have susceptible ankles or have previously suffered from an ankle injury, you will be more prone to ankle sprains each time you step into the pitch. Soccer is a high-impact sport where you have to position your body correctly so you won’t twist any joint or muscle when making sudden movements.

A problem gait can also cause the ankle to have excess movement. While some soccer cleats can provide compression around the ankle to make it feel more stable, supportive cleats with more rearfoot stability can provide better ankle support. However, there is no ultimate soccer cleat that can prevent ankle sprains on the soccer field.

soccer cleats high tops
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What are the best soccer cleats with ankle support?

The best soccer cleats with ankle support have rearfoot stability that helps secure the foot for multidirectional movements. They may have a high-top design that provides compression and secure lockdown around the ankle to make it feel more stable. And an upper material that offers superb locked-in fit and stability in all directions.

A soccer cleat with an excellent heel counter and padding that eliminate negative space can help secure the foot and prevent excess side-to-side movement. And a comfortable footbed with anti-slip technology will also help absorb shock, provide stability, and lock the foot down through every change of direction.

Nike Soccer Cleats with Ankle Support

Here’s a list of Nike high-top soccer cleats, which are also agile and stable on lateral movements:

Nike Mercurial Superfly 9 Elite

nike zoom mercurial superfly 9
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Effective positions: Center Forward, Striker, Winger, Attacking Midfielder, Left/Right Midfielder, Center Back, Sweeper, Fullback, and Wingback.

The Mercurial Superfly 9 is Nike’s elite offering, and it is arguably the best Superfly ever made. This soccer cleat has a premium locked-in sensation with a Dynamic Fit collar and a mid-cut collar that provides compression around the ankle. It has interior heel cushioning for rearfoot stability. It now has a Zoom Air unit, which allows you to move faster in the air. And NikeGrip technology to minimize foot slippage.

Professional soccer players admire the Mercurial Superfly for its responsive upper and aggressive soleplate that can make your moves more quickly. Some sports medicine physicians recommend it for its perfect blend of comfort, flexibility, support, and shock absorption.

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Cheaper alternative: Nike Mercurial Superfly 9 Pro. It is $115 more affordable than the elite model but feels like its top-end version, with materials not far behind in quality and performance.

Nike Phantom GT2 Elite DF

nike phantom gt2 elite df
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Effective positions: Center Forward, Second Striker, Attacking Midfielder, Central Midfielder, Defensive Midfielder, Center Back, Sweeper, and Goalkeeper.

Nike Phantom GT2 has the combined technologies of two excellent soccer cleats – the Phantom Venom and Vision. It has a slight advantage over the Mercurials on side-to-side movements because of its Hyperquick soleplate system that gives more stability for quick changes in the lateral direction. This control cleat has a well-padded one-piece Flyknit upper that provides excellent support for quick cuts and sudden movements.

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Cheaper alternative: Nike Phantom GT2 Pro. It is $120 more affordable than the elite model but has an almost identical Flyknit upper (with GT technology). The fit is also similar to its top-end model.

Nike Tiempo Legend 9 Elite

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Effective positions: Goalkeeper, Center Back, Sweeper, Fullback, Wingback, Defensive Midfielder, Central Midfielder, Center Forward, and Striker.

If there are low-top soccer cleats that must join this list, they have to be the models of the Tiempo Legend. Some sports medicine physicians say the Tiempo Legend has more lateral and ankle support than most soccer cleats.

Nike Tiempo Legend 9 is the lightest Tiempo ever made. It has a refined upper for better touch and control of the ball. And a redesigned outsole that boosts quicker cuts and sharper stops. This shoe is a doctor-recommended soccer cleat for flat feet.

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Cheaper alternative: Nike Tiempo Legend 9 Pro. It is $100 cheaper than the elite model. But it has quality materials and looks and feels very much like its high-grade model.

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Adidas High Top Soccer Cleats

Here’s a list of Adidas high-top soccer cleats, which are also agile and stable on side-to-side movements:

Adidas Nemeziz+

adidas nemeziz

Adidas Nemeziz+ is a laceless agility soccer cleat designed to give you power and support for multidirectional movements. It uses Tensiontape technology, which offers an adaptive fit and better touch on the ball, with a slightly raised collar to support the ankle. It also uses split plate tooling with conical-like studs to give the foot natural freedom and better performance.

Adidas Predator Edge+

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Effective positions: Center Forward, Striker, Defensive Midfielder, Central Midfielder, Fullback, Wingback, Center Back, and Sweeper.

If you are a wide-footed player looking for a soccer cleat with a roomy toe box, Adidas Predator Edge+ is one of your best options. This laceless model is almost as popular as its lace-up model and is now the preferred shoe among elite soccer players over its outgoing model, the Freak+.

The Predator Edge+ has more volume and generates more power when striking the ball than its predecessor. It has a new sticky ZONE SKIN for optimized ball manipulation and a premium PRIMEKNIT collar that offers breathability, easy entry, and a secure lockdown. And it has a FACET FRAME outsole, designed to deliver more stability, dynamic traction, and optimized power transfer when striking the ball.

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Cheaper alternative: Adidas Predator Edge.2. It is $120 cheaper than Edge .1 but also has the new ZONE SKIN technology and weighs almost the same as its top-end model.

Adidas Predator Freak.1 Mid

adidas predator freak .1

Effective positions: Goalkeeper, Center Back, Sweeper, Defensive Midfielder, Central Midfielder, and Attacking Midfielder.

Adidas Predator Freak.1 Mid is your best option if you want more ankle support and a better locked-in fit through the midfoot. It feels more comfortable than its successor, the Edge.1, with a more refined touch on the ball. And it has a stable outsole with conical-like studs under the forefoot for better foot function.

Cheaper alternative: Adidas Predator Freak.2. It is $120 cheaper than Freak .1 but also has the 360° coverage of the sticky rubber spikes. It has a soleplate that looks very much like the Freak .1.

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Other Football Cleats with Ankle Support

Here’s a list of other famous football cleats with ankle support:

PUMA FUTURE 1.3

puma future z 1.3

Effective positions: Striker, Center Forward, Central Midfielder, Defensive Midfielder, Fullback, Wingback, and Goalkeeper.

This stunning shoe has unique features admired by the fastest and most agile soccer players. It is one of the most comfortable soccer cleats with a well-structured upper and a more refined second-generation adaptive mid-foot FUZIONFIT+ compression band, which helps lock the foot down through every change of direction. It has a raised collar that feels comfortable around the ankle. And a Dynamic Motion System asymmetric outsole for superior traction and stability for multidirectional movements.

Cheaper alternative: PUMA FUTURE 2.3. It is $70 cheaper than FUTURE 1.3. But it has premium materials and looks almost identical to its high-grade model. It also has a FUZIONFIT technology and a similar soleplate as its top-end model.

New Balance Furon V6+ Pro

new balance furon v6

Effective positions: Center Forward, Striker, Winger, Goalkeeper, Fullback, Wingback, Center Back, and Sweeper.

New Balance Furon V6+ may have the most comfortable support around the heel and ankle with a soft interior and padding that provides long-lasting comfort. It has plenty of technologies that care for the feet.

This speed cleat has a well-structured Hypoknit upper with Fit Weave technology, which provides a sock-like fit and superb stability. It has an infiniGRIP insert designed to reduce foot slippage and provide a stable ride. And a pro-level lightweight nylon plate with a ribbed midfoot for more stability through every change of direction.

Cheaper alternative: New Balance Furon V6+ Destroy. It is $95 cheaper than the Furon V6+ Pro. But it feels fast, agile, soft, and comfortable like its high-grade model. This first takedown model also has a Fit Weave stretch upper and Nanofront sock liner.

New Balance Tekela v3+ Pro

new balance tekela v3+

New Balance Tekela v3+ is the laceless soccer cleat that won’t give you an easy entry if you have wide feet, although there is an option for width. But once your foot is in, you will experience a super comfortable, soft, pliable, and supportive locked-in fit. This latest model has significant improvements on its knit upper, which will give the ankle better support. It offers multifunctional zonal support and stability underfoot. And a multi-directional stud configuration that will deliver superb traction and better foot function.

Lotto Solista 100 IV

lotto solista 100 iv

Effective positions: Goalkeeper, Center Back, Sweeper, Fullback, Wingback, and Attacking Midfielder.

Lotto Solista 100 IV is an excellent top-end laceless soccer cleat similar to the Mercurial Superfly but offered at a lower price. This speed cleat weighs like the Nike Superfly and has a soft, one-piece 3D knit upper that delivers a superb locked-in fit. Its high-top design also helps secure the foot.

The Solista 100 IV has high-quality materials. It has a soft interior and padding for long-lasting comfort. And well-placed EVO and conical studs for enhanced stability, acceleration, flexibility, and traction for multidirectional movements.

Mizuno Rebula Cup Japan

mizuno rebula cup

Effective positions: Center Back, Sweeper, Fullback, Wingback, Defensive Midfielder, and Central Midfielder.

The Rebula Cup Japan is arguably the most comfortable Mizuno soccer cleat. It has the highest quality kangaroo leather upper that blends well with its stable and agile outsole. It even has perfectly placed oval and conical stabilizer studs that provide more stability and better foot function.

Mizuno made the Rebula Cup for comfort and speed. The midfoot is high-grip synthetic leather, which wraps the foot in comfort, giving it a secure and protective locked-in fit. It has a soft and supportive heel pad with more padding toward the top of the collar. And a responsive outsole that naturally goes with the foot as it flexes.

A Better Solution to Prevent Ankle Sprains

The above soccer cleats will give you extra support around the ankle, but they won’t help strengthen the ankle. And if you depend on ankle support alone, you will always have weak ankles.

A much better solution is to focus more on strengthening your ankle, so you won’t limit yourself to wearing just a few soccer cleats. That said, here are helpful tips from experts to prevent ankle sprains:

  • Watch for uneven surfaces on the soccer field.
  • Complete your warm-up exercises before starting any game or practice.
  • Apply weak ankles exercises.
  • Be well-rested and don’t play if your foot hurts.
  • Get rid of excess body weight.

Soccer Cleats with Ankle Support: Frequently Asked Questions

Which soccer cleats have the best support?

Some sports medicine physicians suggest the Nike Mercurial and Tiempo Legend soccer cleats because of their superb blend of comfort, flexibility, support, and shock absorption. The Tiempo, in particular, has more lateral and ankle support than most soccer cleats.

Are high top cleats better for your ankles?

Yes. High-top cleats provide compression and secure lockdown around the ankle to make it feel more stable. They also help prevent small pebbles from getting inside the shoe and create a feeling of oneness between the foot and the shoe.

What cleats does Mbappe wear?

Kylian Mbappe, the Striker/Center Forward of Paris Saint-Germain, wears Nike Mercurial Superfly VIII Elite Dream Speed 5 for the Season 2021-22.

What cleats does Neymar wear?

Neymar, the Winger of Paris Saint-Germain, wears PUMA FUTURE 1.3 for the Season 2021-22.

Are high-top or low top shoes better?

High-top shoes provide compression and secure lockdown around the ankle. They also look more elegant than low-top shoes and provide a smooth transition between the foot and the shoe. On the other hand, low-top shoes will offer complete freedom of movement around the ankle. And it is the default choice of most soccer players.

What are soccer cleats with socks called?

They are called high-cut soccer cleats with sock collars.

Why do football boots have ankle socks?

Football boots have ankle socks because (1) They provide compression, comfort, and a secure locked-in fit around the ankle. (2) They create a feeling that your foot is one with the shoe. (3) They prevent small pebbles from getting inside the shoe. (4) They look more elegant than boots with no ankle socks.

Do you wear socks with soccer cleats?

Yes. It is a part of compulsory equipment for a soccer player. You must also wear socks with soccer cleats to prevent blisters because some cleats don’t have a soft interior. Socks also allow you to fasten your shin guards to protect your vulnerable shin.

Why do soccer shoes have spikes?

The spikes in soccer shoes provide sure traction and stability for multidirectional movements on natural surfaces.

What are the spikes under cleats called?

The spikes under soccer cleats are called studs or cleats. They may be conical or blade-like in shape.

What are the best soccer cleats for ankle support?

The best soccer cleats for ankle support have rearfoot stability and upper materials that offer superb lockdown. A high-top design may be helpful because it delivers compression and secure lockdown around the ankle. The best examples of these soccer cleats are Nike Mercurial Superfly 9, New Balance Tekela v3+, and Lotto Solista 100 IV.

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About Lem Anota

He played as a defender/midfielder for many years but is also proficient in other roles on the soccer field. During his younger years, Lem played in major competitions. Today, he tests soccer cleats and running shoes and reviews their quality, technology, comfort, and performance.