In our fast-paced modern daily life, we’ve got used to eating improperly and unhealthily. Even the air we breathe isn’t clean anymore. To at least offset a little of the harm the environment does to our bodies every day, we need to exercise. Sport means health and discipline—and what’s more important than that for us? Of course, we want to pass these habits on to our children. One of the most popular sports is football and, fortunately, most kids love it. Even though they’re having fun while staying active, our beloved children don’t always realise they can get injured, so it’s the parents who must provide the right gear and footwear. Today we’ll talk about kids’ football boots, as well as the most popular brands.
Kids’ football boots matter not only for keeping our children safe, but also for their confidence and more engaged play. They feel like real footballers, not just amateurs—so it’s crucial to pick the right model for your child. Let’s go through everything you need to know.
When it comes to material, football boots have a unique build due to the high standards they must meet. The upper of kids’ football boots is most often made of quality synthetic or leather to provide excellent durability and ventilation. The boots should also be lightweight and not burden the foot. The lower part of these models features characteristic studs made of plastic or metal. They bite into the turf and thus provide greater stability on the pitch. Just a note: metal studs aren’t recommended for children under 15, as they can deform the foot.
When we talk about kids’ footwear, we can’t rely only on what the child says, because they often “fall in love” with the design and don’t care about the size. Our job is to be responsible and choose the correct size. Every manufacturer uses different standards and sizes often vary, so we have to check ourselves whether the boot fits the child’s foot well. To do this, press the toe cap of the boot while it’s on and feel whether there’s room between the tips of the toes and the front of the boot. The boots shouldn’t be too wide, as such models are made from stiff materials and, in the long term, can cause injuries. Nor should kids’ football boots be too tight, as this can deform the toes or toenails—and we don’t want that. Choose wisely and check everything!
What you’ll need: A sheet of paper, a pencil, a ruler, a wall, match socks.
This is the most important part of the article, so keep reading. When we think of football, we always picture boots with studs on the sole. However, that isn’t always the best choice. Based on the structure of the playing surface, we can split football boots into three types.
1. Kids’ football boots for playing on hard surfaces.
2. Boots for playing on soft surfaces.
3. Boots for playing on grass.
Football boots for playing on hard surfaces. If, for example, the weather is bad, the coach will most likely take your child to train indoors. The space there is smaller than a standard stadium, which means your child will make more movements and sharp changes of direction. Besides being dressed appropriately, you also need to provide boots suitable for hard, dry surfaces. Football boots designed for this kind of surface have very small, compressed studs arranged irregularly on the outsole. You can also use them for training on grass, but they’ll wear out much faster than models designed specifically for natural or artificial turf. Most models, however, have a full rubber outsole, similar to a regular shoe.
Boots suitable for training on soft surfaces. As the name suggests, these are football boots suitable for wet and muddy grounds. They have reinforced outsoles and studs that can be replaced if needed. Here too the studs are unevenly distributed, with most placed at the front of the boot for better stability on soft ground.
Kids’ football boots for playing on grass. These are the most commonly bought and most widely used. You can recognise them by the large number of low studs, which help with balance on the pitch. Such models are resistant to dirt and wear. Of course, there are mixed models as well—i.e., suitable for different surfaces and grounds.
Colours and prints. Kids care most about the colour and prints on their football boots. Every child has a favourite team and player and tries in every way to imitate their idol. So choose the colour according to your child’s preferences. That way you can be sure your little one will be happy and their confidence will grow.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s boots. Many little boys like Cristiano Ronaldo and everything related to him—including his boots! It’s no secret he’s a big fan of NIKE, and you can often see him wearing such football boots. Red, gold, black, green and yellow are just part of his collection. This is a good choice when you want high-quality boots.
Lionel Messi’s boots. He’s the next “superhero” our little footballers want to resemble. His favourite brand is ADIDAS. PUMA and SPORTSDIRECT are also among the preferred football-boot makers. When you choose such products, you can be sure of their quality. Other famous footballers include Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, Ronaldinho, Steven Gerrard, Luis Suárez, Kaká, Thierry Henry, Francesco Totti, Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, Luka Modrić, Thomas Müller and others, so if your child is a fan of any of them, there’s plenty of information online about their boots.
Besides football boots, let’s not forget the sport’s characteristic socks. Look for high-quality long socks made from natural materials that wick away moisture and odours. For greater safety we can add knee pads under the socks. Have fun and be responsible when you send your kids onto the football pitch.
For hard surfaces — small, compressed studs/rubber outsole; for soft surfaces — reinforced and often replaceable studs; for grass — many low studs for balance.
Upper in synthetic or leather for durability and ventilation; lightweight overall; outsole with studs (plastic or metal depending on the surface).
Don’t go by the design. Leave a small gap at the front (finger test); the boot should be neither wide nor narrow. Brands have different sizing standards.
Not recommended under 15, as they can negatively affect the foot.
Long, quality socks made of breathable materials and knee pads underneath for better hygiene, comfort, and safety.