Best football boots with ankle support 2023
There’s nothing worse than uncomfortable football boots that have barely any protection for our aching ankles.
They can quickly become our Achilles' heel (pardon the pun) out on the pitch, making us as injury-prone as Jack Wilshere on a cold Tuesday night.
Whether you’re playing a full-sized match or a quick game of five-a-side, football always involves putting a lot of strain on your joints.
Without the proper footwear, you can be suddenly struck down by a serious case of heel pain, nasty blisters or, even worse, the dreaded rolled ankle. Ouch.
Niggling ankle and heel problems can be particularly frustrating, which is why so many players insist on wearing ankle supports and tape.
While taping and using other accessories can certainly help, you really need to find the best football boots with ankle support for the best foundation.
But which boots should you go for? Let’s find out.
Do I need boots with ankle support?
Obviously, this is the first question you should ask yourself.
Although going for football boots with great ankle support is never a bad idea, there’s not much point in prioritising those models if your ankles are completely healthy.
Before you do anything, you need to identify whether there’s a problem.
If you’ve got issues with plantar fasciitis or overpronation, then you should be looking for the best boots for flat feet instead, as they concentrate on offering excellent arch support (rather than ankle).
Likewise, those with narrow feet or wide feet should check out our articles focused more around those issues.
However, if you suffer from Achilles tendonitis, Sever’s disease or similar conditions, then it’s absolutely vital that your football boots offer clear ankle and heel support - even if you’ve gone a bit mad on the tape.
Are football boots with sock collars better?
If you suffer from some sort of ankle problem, then football boots with a sock collar are probably going to be best for you.
The main benefit here is the comfort they provide, offering a lovely snug fit and secure lockdown of the heel and ankle.
It’s not like you’re encasing your ankle in iron here (after all, this is a knitted sock), so we wouldn’t go as far as to say that they offer ‘protection’.
What they do provide however, is an extra sense of stability which prevents too much strain on your ankles.
There are certainly boots out there without a collar which also offer great ankle support, but we'd recommend going for a sock collar boot as a starting point.
Our 5 best football boots with ankle support
Ankle injuries have become a regular problem in modern football, so most of the big brands now concentrate on offering boots with ankle support.
This means there’s now an enormous range for you to choose from, which is why we’re ranking the best boots you can buy right now.
5. Nike Phantom GT2 Elite Dynamic Fit
The Nike Magista was one of the first popular sock football boots, so it feels right that Nike have stuck to that on later Phantom releases. Including the Phantom GT2.
Nike’s innovative Dynamic Fit collar sits at the centre of the design, with the stretchy sock materials securing the ankle and lower calf together.
The Phantom GT2 provides the kind of stability players have been dreaming of for years, while the textured upper is designed to enhance your control on the ball.
It looks incredibly sleek, and the boot features the T90-style lateral lacing, which was very popular with players who sported that release in the ‘00s.
The important thing, of course, is that you can enjoy the snug fit provided by DF collar and traditional laces.
4. Puma Future 1.4
We've always felt that the Puma Future is a little underrated, often overlooked in favour of boots from market leaders Nike and adidas.
Make no mistake, Neymar Jr. doesn’t wear these for the hell of it, and the newest model is one of the most comfortable football boots you can buy right now.
Although the eye is immediately drawn to the overall design which hosts a unique lacing system, those with ankle issues will be more impressed by the FUZIONFIT+ compression material in the upper.
This sock material fits snugly around the ankle and foot, giving an incredibly supportive feel while you’re out on the pitch, and ultimately provides much better flexibility.
We have to say there’s plenty to like about the Future. You’ll be breaking ankles in these, and not your own for once.
3. Adidas Predator Edge+
The adidas Predator has always been famous for its control, accuracy and deadly precision out on the pitch. The Edge is no different.
Well, now it can also boast the fact it’s one of the best football boots with ankle support, as the laceless ‘+’ model’s stretchy Primeknit collar provides excellent levels of support and stability.
Even though the Edge.1 will be absolutely fine, we recommend going for the Edge+, simply because its adaptive Primeknit collar comes a little tighter than the laced version’s.
The FacetFrame soleplate under foot helps to add to the boot’s overall stability. We’ve mentioned it before, but this really is a solid build.
Any way you look at it, the adidas Predator Edge is a great football boot if you’re keen to avoid ankle injuries. The only question is: is it a plain or crazy colourway for your game?
2. New Balance Tekela V4 Pro
The New Balance Tekela V4 has a full-foot stretch knit (Hypoknit) structure, and it’s super supportive.
On top sits a tall 3D knit collar, which will grab on to your ankles and give them a friendly hug, all game.
New Balance’s Tekela may be relatively unknown, but it’s a laceless boot which has everything needed for those players with weak ankle ligaments.
The pricing of this premium boot is lower than most others, usually being found well under £200. Certainly a worthy investment for a long season or two.
You may think of the Tekela as a leftfield choice. We say try it, it’s a great-looking boot with bags of helpful features for achy ankles.
1. Nike Mercurial Superfly 9 Elite
This is it. The Nike Mercurial Superfly 9 is hands-down the best football boot when it comes to ankle support, particularly if you’re an attack-minded player.
Just like the Phantom GT2, the latest Mercurial makes use of Nike’s Dynamic Fit collar to provide essential support.
What sets them apart however, is the Mercurial’s ground-breaking ¾ Zoom Air tech in the soleplate, which adds additional comfort.
The upper material is Vaporposite+, and it cradles the foot providing all round support in every step. Couple that with the Flyknit inner and it’s 100% lockdown for you.
The inevitable result is one of the lightest football boots ever created, making them ideal not just for those with ankle problems, but also players who thrive off explosive pace and agility.
Your choice from this list will depend largely on your own style, but the Mercs should be your first choice if you aren’t picky about aesthetics or brand affinity.
Shop Nike Mercurial Superfly >
High-cut vs. mid-cut vs. low-cut football boots
It feels like nothing is ever straight-forward when we’re talking about football boots.
Even once you’ve decided to go for boots with a sock collar, you need to consider which ankle height is best for you.
In fact, this will probably have a huge bearing on which of the above boots you actually go for, since choosing the wrong collar could make things a little uncomfortable.
Sock collars and boot heights come in three separate sizes: high-cut, mid-cut and low-cut (pictured in order, above).
Each one provides different benefits and drawbacks, so you need to think long and hard about which one is best for you.
In short, high-cut boots are usually the best for ankle support, as they fully connect the lower leg and heel to provide better stability.
Mid-cut boots are ideal if you want more flexibility but also to protect your ankles a little, while low-cut boots are perfect when ankle support isn’t as important as other factors.
All in all, it really depends on which ‘feel’ you prefer when you’re roaming the park.
Where to buy cheap football boots with ankle support
Our selection of football boots is one of the biggest on the internet. That’s because every day, we pull in models and prices from all the leading online retailers.
Choose from Pro:Direct, Sports Direct, Lovell Soccer and all the top brands to find the lowest price on your favourite boots today.
