Best Nike Football Boots 2023

In the world of football, choosing the right pair of boots can make all the difference between victory and defeat. Nike, a brand synonymous with sportswear excellence, is one company at the very top of the football boot food chain. As a result, we've put together a list of the best Nike football boots that can not only enhance your game but also elevate your style on the pitch.

Whether you're a striker seeking lethal precision, a playmaker striving for unrivalled control, or a defender yearning for impenetrable protection, we've rounded up a selection of the best football boots to suit your playing style and help you unlock your true potential.

That said, any one of these boots can be used for any position realistically, but, for this list, we've broken them down into boots that we feel are best suited to certain roles on the pitch. For example, the Zoom Mercurial Superfly 9 stands out as an excellent choice for wingers due to its lightness, which is crucial when it comes to accelerating and reaching your top speed as you won't feel weighed down.

So, make sure you stick around as we explore some of the features, technologies, and performance that make these boots stand out from the crowd, ensuring you stay one step ahead of the competition. Lace-up, because the journey to footballing greatness begins with the right pair of Nike boots.

Best Nike football boots

1. Nike Zoom Mercurial Vapor 15
2. Nike Gripknit Phantom GX
3. Nike Zoom Mercurial Superfly 9
4. Nike Tiempo Legend 10
5. Nike Phantom Luna

Credit: Nike

1. Nike Zoom Mercurial Vapor 15

Best all-round Nike football boots

We're kicking things off with a boot that we feel is truly well-rounded - the Nike Zoom Mercurial Vapor 15. In the professional game, it's worn by players up and down the pitch at the time of writing, from João Cancelo at the back to Robert Lewandowski up top.

There's a reason for this. The boot is designed to be incredibly comfortable, grippy, and responsive. One of the key features behind this is the football-specific 3/4 Zoom Air unit. This technology, integrated into the sole, offers an unprecedented level of responsive cushioning, propelling you forward on the field with remarkable speed and agility.

The speed cage inside the outer layer also helps here, as well as the tri-star studs providing multi-directional traction with every step. The upper is also worth mentioning, as it's made from Vaporposite+, a cutting-edge material that blends a textured, grid mesh for enhanced traction and excellent ball control, even during rapid movements.

On the whole, the Zoom Mercurial Vapor 15 is a superstar in the world of football boots. It's got pretty much everything you need, regardless of where you play on the pitch, making it one of the most well-rounded options to consider in our opinion.

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Credit: Nike

2. Nike Gripknit Phantom GX

Best Nike football boots for strikers

As a striker, shooting is key. Fortunately, the Nike Gripknit Phantom GX excels in this field due to its exceptional build and sleek, aerodynamic design.

Build-wise, the boot is made from Nike's Gripknit, a sticky material designed to improve your touch, even when breaking through defensive lines at speed. The material makes up the majority of the boot, including the first two laces, thus providing you with a cleaner strike zone for more accurate shots.

This strike zone is also improved by the asymmetry in the collar and heel, while underfoot, you get tri-star studs that work with the forefoot flex grooves to ensure you remain surefooted when stepping up to strike the ball.

As a result, we feel the Phanthom GX is an excellent option for those playing up top. It features a design and technologies that, in our eyes, are tailor-made for the striking position.

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Credit: Nike

3. Nike Zoom Mercurial Superfly 9

Best Nike football boots for wingers

As touched on in the introduction, we believe the Nike Zoom Mercurial Superfly 9 is an outstanding boot best suited to those playing on the wing where speed is often key.

There are several elements that contribute to this. Firstly, it features a lightweight Flyknit upper that's soft, stretchy, and generally unrestrictive, which can help when it comes to reaching your top speed quickly.

Adding to this, the boot features the same 3/4 Zoom Air unit as the Vapor 15, which means it too provides an extra spring to each stride that can help you move faster on the pitch and create separation when it matters the most.

Other notable features include its speed cage structure and its tri-star studs providing traction underfoot. So, taking all these features into account, we'd say it's hard to argue against the Superfly 9 being a great boot for wingers.

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Credit: Nike

4. Nike Tiempo Legend 10

Best Nike football boots for defenders

Gone are the days of the no-nonsense centre-back. Just look at John Stone during the 2022/23 season. He was somehow both one of the best defenders and midfielders in the Premier League that season, all thanks to the evolution of the centre-back position.

As a result, a top football boot for a defender needs to be durable and strong in a tackle but also features all the tools necessary to pass, dribble, and even shoot when needed. Enter the Nike Tiempo Legend 10.

The boot utilises durable FlyTouch Plus leather, which Nike describes as being even softer than natural leather. This exceptional softness allows the boot to mould to the shape of your foot, providing unparalleled comfort without compromising the integrity of the material. Complementing this feature is the presence of Flyknit around the ankle, which not only keeps the boot lightweight but also ensures a secure and locked-in sensation.

To enhance your touch and dribbling skills, the boot incorporates micro-dots across key contact areas, providing an extra level of grip. Furthermore, Nike has reduced the size of the foam pods from the previous Tiempo model, resulting in a lighter boot that offers a closer connection to the ball. Ultimately, these boots are designed to meet the needs of modern defenders, offering a perfect blend of functionality and performance.

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Credit: Nike

5. Nike Phantom Luna

Best Nike football boots for midfielders

We've run through some pretty spectacular football boots so far, all of which would suit those playing in the midfield. However, the Nike Phantom Luna offers just that little bit extra in terms of playmaking and controlling the tempo of the game.

Interestingly, the boot was developed using insights from female athletes and their experiences on the pitch. As a result, it features a unique Cyclone 360 traction pattern that's designed to help you make quick cuts and movements, which is great when you need to fool your opposition to open up space and play that perfect through ball.

The boot also features the same Gripknit material as touched on earlier, which means it can provide unparalleled levels of control with the ball at your feet due to its sticky surface. Moreover, it comes with asymmetrical lacing that offers a larger touch surface for dribbling, passing, and shooting, ensuring a cleaner hit every time.

It's a wicked football boot that we believe can elevate almost anyone's game to new heights. For midfielders though, there's certainly a lot to get excited by due to the sheer number of immense features and details it has to offer.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Buying football boots isn't always a straightforward process. Don't worry if you have any questions though as we've answered some of the most frequently asked queries below.

What makes Nike football boots different from other brands?

Nike football boots are some of the most popular boots on the market, but it's not without reason.

Nike boots feature some of the most advanced and cutting-edge technologies around as the brand invests heavily to improve performance, comfort, and durability through innovations such as Flyknit construction, All Conditions Control (ACC) technology, and responsive cushioning systems.

Nike also has an extensive range of football boots to choose from, which includes premium, mid-range, and budget iterations of most of its different models. These variations are known as Elite, Pro, and Academy.

What's more, the boots are worn by the majority of professional players in the world. According to the Football Boot Database, Nike football boots are worn by around 50% of professional players, with adidas being the second most-worn brand. As a result, the majority of Nike football boots are developed alongside professionals to understand their needs on the pitch. This collaboration helps in creating boots that are tailored to meet the specific demands of players at various positions and playing styles.

What's also great about Nike boots is the number of customisable options. Nike allows you to personalise its boots with your names, numbers, and colour combinations through its NikeiD platform.

As a result, there are plenty of reasons why Nike football boots stand out as some of the best. However, it's important to note that individual preferences and playing styles may influence the choice of football boots, and different brands may excel in specific areas. Therefore, it's always recommended to try on different brands and models to find the best fit and performance for your needs.

What size Nike football boots should you buy?

When it comes to buying Nike football boots, it's important to find the right size for your feet to ensure a comfortable and secure fit. To do this, you should first measure your feet.

Use a measuring tape or ruler to measure the length of your foot from the heel to the longest toe. You can also use a foot measuring device available at some shoe stores.

Now you know your measurements, consult Nike's size chart. Nike provides size charts on their official website or product listings. These charts typically correlate foot length with shoe sizes, allowing you to find the closest match.

If you can, we'd recommended trying on the boots before making a purchase. This way, you can get a better sense of how they fit and feel on your feet. Once you find one which fits comfortably, you should be good to go.

Just remember though that sizing can vary slightly between different Nike boot models, so it's important to refer to the specific size chart provided for the particular boots you're interested in. Additionally, consider any specific fit recommendations or customer reviews for the specific boot model you're considering, as these can offer insights into the fit and sizing of the boots.