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A deep dive into the world of laceless soccer cleats

Since their introduction in 2006, laceless soccer cleats have taken over the pitch and the locker rooms of many, and for good reason. With the latest tech and a host of benefits behind them, more and more soccer players are looking to get in on the laceless soccer cleats hype.

GOAL takes a deep dive into everything laceless soccer cleats. We're talking the benefits, the history, the market leaders, and of course, where you can buy your very own pair. We've highlighted everything you need to know to find the best fit and given you a round-up of the very best laceless soccer cleats for every soccer player.

What are the benefits of laceless soccer cleats?

Admittedly, most soccer cleats in the history of soccer have come with laces – some of them have even become iconic because of their laces – but laceless cleats have their own benefits. One of the key strengths is the control given by replacing the uneven surface of the lace area with an entirely smooth section. This allows for cleaner contact with the ball, helping to improve control, shooting, and passing.

One player who has spoken about the need for laceless soccer cleats in the past is Mesut Özil, who explained that “my whole career, I have tried to minimize the impact of laces on my strike and ball control.” To cope with this, Özil developed a special technique. “I knot the laces over and over again and then tuck in the ends, that way, they do not interfere with my touch.” The arrival of laceless cleats meant that Özil didn’t have to do that anymore, and the top of the boot became perfectly engineered for control.

adidasWhat is the history behind laceless soccer cleats?

Laceless soccer cleats have been around for more than 15 years, although it wasn’t one of the big brands that pioneered the technology. Back in 2006, Italian label Lotto launched its Zhero Gravity line – the design was relaunched in 2021 – and tapped Brazil legend Cafu to premier the laceless silhouette.

Despite the Italian brand’s best intentions, the design didn’t catch on, and it would be a full decade before laceless soccer cleats hit the mainstream. In 2016, adidas arrived with its ACE 16+ Purecontrol, setting the tone for a new generation of laceless designs. At the time, Ivan Rakitic called them “the best boots I’ve ever worn,” adding that “because there are no laces, the surface area is a lot larger, meaning controlling the ball is easier.”

LottoLooking for the best soccer cleats in 2023? GOAL has you coveredWho makes the best laceless soccer cleats?

Seven years after it took laceless soccer cleats firmly into the mainstream, adidas is still the market leader. Almost all of its top-level silhouettes – from Predators and Copas to Speedportals and Speedflows – have been given the treatment, and brand-new laceless iterations of each design arrive regularly.

That isn’t to say that adidas has it sewn up. Other big players in the boot industry are beginning to release more laceless cleats, and almost all of them utilize the design for their children-focused designs. While it is yet to go fully laceless, Nike recently launched the next generation Phantom GX silhouette, with a ghost lacing system covered by GripKnit to accentuate touch and control. It’s the closest Nike has ever got to laceless and shows the benefits of using that area of the boot for control.

Pro Direct SoccerWhere can I buy laceless soccer cleats?

adidas may be the major player in the laceless cleats world, but that doesn’t mean they’re the only company to have done away with traditional fastenings.

Here are five of the best laceless soccer cleats currently available, ranging from new versions of classic adidas silhouettes to innovative designs from other boot brands:

Shop: Best laceless soccer cleats

The best place to start is with adidas’ latest release. As the all-new addition to the Predator family, the Accuracy+ has been designed with control and finesse as priorities.

The laceless model takes this further, with the freed-up real estate on the roof of the cleats now covered with rubber grip. This helps to expand what adidas calls the “kicking zone” increasing the grip and control even further. The laceless predators come in either plain black or plain white, or you can opt for a splash of colour with the addition of adidas’ Team Shock Pink.

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PUMA’s stand-out laceless soccer cleats are the Future Match, designed for playmakers in the mould of Neymar Jr. (although he tends to wear laced-up PUMA Futures).

The cleats are constructed using the brand’s FUZIONFIT360 to guarantee a good fit, while other technical specifications include texturing on the forefront – to help with dribbling and passing at speed – and a flexible soleplate to assist with changes of direction.

Silhouettes from New Balance’s Tekela line – designed for attack-minded players – have frequently been given the laceless treatment. Now that the Tekela silhouette has evolved into the V4 iteration, the brand is perfecting its formula.

This silhouette is stripped back, with hardly any texture or unnecessary weight, as New Balance aims to bring the player’s foot as close to the ball as possible. This approach is referenced in the colourway as well. Most of the boot is covered in plain black, with just a gold “N” logo for decoration. The Tekela V4 means business.

adidas has found success with its Copa line in the past – the laced Sense is worn by some of the game’s biggest names – and so it makes sense to deliver a laceless alternative.

Unlike the majority of laceless soccer cleats, the Copa Sense+ doesn’t feature a raised collar and instead sports a low-top construction. The foot is secured with a PRIMEKNIT collar, while K-leather at the forefoot ensures smoothness, and Touchpods help to increase control and feel for the ball.