Football boot

Football boots, also referred to as cleats or soccer shoes in North America, are specialized footwear designed primarily for use in association football and also frequently used in rugby football.

Those designed for grass pitches have studs on the outsole to aid grip. Football boots originally began as industrial worker footwear tailored to football, maintaining a rigid design. Though eventually evolved into shoes that could no longer truly be traditional boots, as they no longer covered the ankle. As with most other types of athletic footwear, their basic design and appearance has converged with that of sneakers since the 1960s. However, modern football boots have grown to become more light-weight, shifting to the use of synthetic materials and more customizable towards the players.

Despite being most associated with football and rugby, the shoe is often used in other sports that are played on grass surfaces, such as touch, lacrosse, hurling, shinty, and tug of war. Furthermore, it has expanded into the market, becoming a commercialized product linked to various recognizable players.

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