The Best Futsal Shoes: Brands, Tech and What Elite Players Wear
At the 2024 Futsal World Cup, the shoes worn in each team’s first match had Joma on 133 of the 332 players, ahead of Nike (77), Munich (29), Kipsta (25) and Senda (19). [1, 2] At EURO 2018, a retailer’s courtside report put Nike first. [3] Both describe elite use at one tournament; neither tells you which shoe will fit your foot.
We'll examine the construction of the leading models and the reasons players give for their choices. Disclosure: we sell Joma and Senda. The shortlist includes brands we do not stock.
Our picks
Start with the kind of build you want, then compare the fit.
| Priority | Checked shoe | Why compare it and what to check |
|---|---|---|
| Overall starting pick | Joma Top Flex 26 Pito TOPW2652IN |
Leather, phylon and court rubber: the conventional option in this shortlist. Current 26-series Joma is true to size, but the forefoot is roomy, so judge width separately. [4] |
| More cushioning | Joma Top Flex Rebound 26 TORW2631IN |
Leather upper with REACTIVE BALL plus phylon. Compared directly with the standard Top Flex, it has more bounciness and cushioning. |
| Premium leather forefoot | Mizuno Morelia Sala Elite IN Q1GA2512 |
Kangaroo leather at the forefoot, synthetic midfoot, ENERZY midsole and ENERZY XP sockliner. Standard D width and true-to-size guidance. Heel can feel harsh to those not used to it. |
| Mesh and midfoot structure | Joma Regate Reactive 26 RRES2676IN |
Mesh and heat-sealed overlays; FOAM REACTIVE heel, phylon and a carbon midfoot stabiliser. Compare the heel hold and flex with a leather shoe. [5] |
| Established Nike option | Nike Lunar Gato II 580456-802 |
Leather forefoot, mesh panels and cushioned midsole. First in Fútbol Emotion’s May 2026 high-end list. Durability is hit and miss. |
| Newer Nike construction | Nike Tiempo React Gato HQ3159-100 |
TechLeather upper and ReactX midsole. Second in the same retailer ranking. It is a distinct model from the older React Gato. [6, 7] |
| adidas court option | adidas Top Sala Competition II KJ8567; AU sizing JP6980 |
Leather vamp, mesh, Lightstrike and EVA. adidas Australia recommends the usual size for JP6980; do not carry over the first generation’s size-up advice. [8, 9, 10] |
| Traditional sole construction | Munich Continental 965 4100965 |
Leather, phylon and vulcanised rubber construction with a higher sole profile. Compare its floor feel and bending resistance in person. [11] |
| Leather and Fresh Foam | New Balance Audazo v6 Pro IN SA1IWB6 |
Full-grain leather vamp, mesh, Fresh Foam and an internal toe bumper. Check the indoor designation and the widths actually offered for this version. [12] |
Fútbol Emotion’s May 2026 high-end list is Lunar Gato II, Tiempo React Gato, Top Flex Rebound, Munich Continental and Morelia Sala Elite. [7] Sprinter’s different shortlist includes Street Gato, Puma Truco, Gresca, Top Sala and Top Flex, with input from former Spain player and coach Alicia Morell. [13] The differing selections show why a retailer ranking needs its scope stated. Neither provides laboratory validation of our picks.
What makes a futsal shoe
A futsal shoe needs to let you brake, change direction, roll the ball under the sole and strike with the toe on a hard court. Its shape, contact with the floor and hold around the foot matter as much as the badge.
Buy the court version. Depending on the brand, that may be labelled IN, IC or Indoor; there is no universal two-letter code. A TF or turf sibling has a different outsole for artificial grass. Sharing a model name does not make the two soles interchangeable for your playing surface.
| Part | What varies | What the variation means for your comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Outsole | Rubber compound, tread depth, grooves and pivot zones | A picture of circular tread is not a grip measurement. The Top Flex 24 listing identifies Rotation structures; compare traction during braking and turning on your actual court. [14] |
| Midsole | Foam formulation, thickness and geometry | Phylon, REACTIVE BALL, ENERZY and Fresh Foam are construction labels. They do not provide a common scale of softness, energy return or lifespan. |
| Sockliner | Thickness, material and how the foot sits inside | A different insert can change internal volume. Mizuno lists ENERZY XP in the Elite sockliner; Desporte lists NanNex in its cushioning system. [15, 16] |
| Upper | Leather, mesh, microfibre, knit and overlays | Compare where the shoe flexes, where seams press and whether the foot moves inside it. Material alone does not establish which upper has better ball control. |
| Toe and structure | Bumpers, overlays, heel hold and midfoot reinforcement | A toe bumper and a carbon stabiliser do different jobs. New Balance’s v6 has toe protection; Joma’s Regate Reactive has carbon midfoot structure. [5, 12] |
| Last | Length, forefoot width, heel shape and volume | A wider toe box can still be too short. Check both feet and the exact model, rather than treating a whole brand as one shape. |
For abrasive outdoor hard courts, investigate that exact model’s intended use and sole construction. A manufacturer’s indoor/outdoor description is useful, but a stronger durability claim needs recorded wear hours on a named surface. Extra rubber in one place may help a toe-drag problem while doing little for wear elsewhere.
What the research can tell us
Two small studies help explain what matters mechanically, but neither ranks the current shoes in our picks. A 2017 study tested nine male recreational players in adidas, Lotto and Tiger shoes during shuffling, sprinting and penalty kicks. The locations of the highest peak plantar pressures were similar across shoes; the study also found some differences in pressure magnitude. “Similar pressure locations” therefore does not mean the shoes performed identically. It measured pressure, rather than injuries or long-term comfort. [17]
A 2021 study tested 19 university-level athletes in three commercial shoes on a hardwood V-cut course. Mean times were 4.81 and 4.83 seconds in two shoes, against 4.96 in the third. Their friction coefficients were 1.34, 1.30 and 1.25 respectively. Bending stiffness, mass and heel-to-toe drop also varied, so the result cannot isolate friction as the sole cause. The authors considered traction a possible explanation and called for testing on other surfaces. [18]
That is a reason to test grip on your own court, rather than rank shoes by a foam name or the presence of carbon. These studies don't establish that a particular cushioning system prevents injury.
The brands and their different approaches
A brand may sell both leather and mesh shoes, traditional and more structured soles, and several price tiers. Its history helps explain its place in futsal; the construction tells you what to put on your shortlist.
Joma
Joma offers several ways into a familiar court-shoe formula. The standard Top Flex 26 is the leather-and-phylon starting point. The Rebound 26 retains a leather upper but uses REACTIVE BALL alongside phylon. The Regate Reactive 26 changes both the upper and the structure: mesh, heat-sealed reinforcement, FOAM REACTIVE in the heel and a carbon midfoot stabiliser. Choosing between them is more meaningful than simply choosing “a Joma”. [4, 5, 19]
For Top Flex Plus, check the edition: the 2025 Women’s World Cup version TOUW2576IN lists REACTIVE BALL, phylon and STABILIS. Similar names in this family can span different construction details. [20]
Sizing has changed as well. Current 26-series Joma is true to size, while older stock ran half a size large, which is where the familiar advice to size down comes from. See How to choose your pair.
Munich
Munich’s own brand history dates its origins to 1939 in the Barcelona area and describes a major futsal commitment in the 1980s. The construction remains a stronger buying argument than age: the checked Continental 965 uses leather, phylon and a higher-profile vulcanised rubber build; the Gresca 321 uses vulcanised rubber with an EVA wedge. [11, 21, 22]
Mizuno
Mizuno’s premium appeal combines a kangaroo-leather forefoot with modern cushioning. The Australian Morelia Sala Elite IN has a synthetic midfoot, ENERZY in the midsole and ENERZY XP in the sockliner. Its standard D width and true-to-size guidance. That construction puts particular emphasis on the material at the front of the foot while retaining a different material around the midfoot. [15]
Morelia Sala Japan IN adds a different proposition. The US listing identifies manufacture in Japan and XG rubber, alongside its leather and ENERZY construction. Those production and outsole details belong to Japan specifically. [23]
Nike
Nike’s futsal story includes both longstanding Gato models and newer upper and foam combinations. The Lunar Gato II listing checked for this review describes leather at the forefoot, mesh and a cushioned midsole. The Tiempo React Gato explicitly uses TechLeather and ReactX. The older React Gato, Lunar Gato II and Tiempo React Gato should be treated as distinct products. [6, 24]
Fútbol Emotion put Lunar Gato II first and Tiempo React Gato second in its May 2026 high-end guide.
adidas
For this shortlist, adidas offers the Top Sala Competition II: a leather vamp, mesh panels and Lightstrike with EVA in the checked KJ8567 version. The Australian JP6980 listing recommends your usual size. The first-generation Competition IE1546 recommended sizing up. That is a concrete example of why a brand-wide rule such as “adidas runs small” is less useful than checking the generation. [8, 9, 10]
New Balance
The Audazo v6 Pro IN combines full-grain leather at the vamp with mesh, a padded tongue, Fresh Foam and toe protection. It provides another leather-and-foam option alongside Joma and Mizuno, with its own last and indoor outsole. Check available widths for the actual listing: a brand’s broader reputation for width choices does not establish which sizes a particular futsal model offers. [12]
The v5+ arrived earlier: July 2021 launch coverage names Bruno Coelho, Erick Mendonça and Joselito. New Balance’s July 2022 colourway release names Mendonça and Afonso de Jesus and describes REVlite cushioning. The v6 checked above moves the comparison to Fresh Foam. These player associations belong to the earlier v5+ model. [25, 26]
Kipsta
Kipsta’s Ginka Pro belongs in this comparison. Decathlon’s reference 8826152 lists a quilted cow-leather upper, non-marking rubber, Flex-H grooves, e-Pebax Powered foam from Arkema, a rigid midfoot piece and a TPU heel support. This places its design alongside other leather court shoes with substantial cushioning, rather than treating Decathlon solely as an entry-level option. These specifications describe this reference; check the separate Ginka Pro V2 before transferring them to a newer generation. [27]
João Matos praises heel cushioning and foot stability, while Adolfo Fernández highlights improved heel padding and comfort.
Senda
Senda’s Ushuaia Pro 2.0 offers a microfibre upper with TPU reinforcement, Actionnube cushioning and a non-marking gum-rubber sole. Senda describes use on indoor and outdoor hard courts. That makes it a relevant comparison for someone who wants a different upper material or alternates between hard-court surfaces. [28] Check the full name, since the Pro and Club versions differ; our label check found both true to size.
Desporte
The Boa Vista KI PRO3 has a genuine-leather vamp with synthetic and mesh sections, EVA cushioning, NanNex silicone foam and a non-marking dual-density rubber outsole. The Japanese brand lists manufacture in Vietnam for this shoe, and a weight of 265 g at 26.5 cm. [16]
Umbro
Umbro’s Brazilian Pro 5 Bump combines natural leather, a suede toe reinforcement, mesh and BUMP cushioning. That is a clear leather-and-cushioning proposition to compare with the European options. [29]
Kelme and Penalty
Kelme has a substantial futsal catalogue, but a catalogue alone does not establish a particular model as best in class. Pick the exact court model available in your market and check its upper, cushioning and size guide before making a like-for-like comparison. [30]
Penalty’s Max 1000 Locker Ecoknit offers an Ecoknit upper using recycled PET, with Neo Cushion, Molix 360 and stabilising structure. Its knit construction gives you another upper material to compare with the leather and microfibre shoes. Check the structure and internal volume of this exact model. [31]
Why elite players choose what they wear
There are several overlapping influences: commercial arrangements, construction, familiar feel and personal identity. Knowing the brand on a player’s foot gives us one piece of the puzzle.
A contract can set the brand while the player selects a model
Joma’s August 2021 Ferrão announcement explicitly describes a footwear and apparel sponsorship. It says he selected Regate Rebound for cushioning and reactivity, linking the choice to his height and direct style. That is a useful case because the contract and the claimed model rationale appear in the same source. It remains Joma’s account of the choice. [32]
The same brand can accommodate different preferences. Joma’s 2024 World Cup report names six models in use: Top Flex, Táctico, Top Flex Rebound, Regate Rebound, Invicto and FS Reactive. "Joma" does not mean everyone wore Top Flex.
Familiarity can matter more than a new flagship
In the EURO 2018 report, Ricardinho describes futsal players as particular about their shoes and reluctant to switch after years in a familiar pair. The reporter observed his customised TiempoX and discusses its midsole profile. Familiarity is the reported player remark; the midsole explanation comes from the retailer. [3]
Sprinter reports that she uses Gresca and that her best seasons came in adidas Top Sala, with comfort and performance part of the appeal. Her experience shows that a player’s preferred brand can change and that the “best” pair may be the one whose shape and feel become familiar.
Player editions can express identity without changing the shoe
Joma’s 2026 player-edition announcement describes graphics developed with Pito, Luciano Gauna and Lucão while retaining the Top Flex or Top Flex Rebound technical base. Lucão’s separate launch centres on his love of reading. The signature artwork explains the appearance and personal story of the pair. [33, 34]
Availability and brand strategy belong in the story too
Joma’s September 2021 World Cup report links its tournament presence to an expansion of its Brazilian shoe distribution through First Sports. That is direct evidence that elite visibility and access to a regional market form part of the brand’s commercial strategy. It does not tell us why every individual chose the shoes, but it helps explain how sponsorship and distribution can reinforce each other. [35]
For an amateur player, the transferable reasoning is practical: get the fit and court construction right, compare the cushioning and structure you prefer, and choose a pair you can replace or return. A player’s contract, personalised colourway and history with an old model might have nothing to do with why a shoe is perfect for you.
What leading players have been linked to
| Player | Footwear association |
|---|---|
| Pito | Joma Top Flex 26 TOPW2652IN |
| Amandinha | Joma Top Flex Rebound 26 TORW2699IN |
| Lucão | Joma Top Flex |
| Luciano Gauna | Joma Top Flex Rebound |
| Dyego | Joma Dz-7 |
| Antonio Pérez and Erik Martel | Munich; model unspecified |
| Sergio Lozano | Munich Continental, then Rondo |
| Ricardinho | Nike Gato association in a Lunar Gato II listing |
| Erick Mendonça and Afonso de Jesus | New Balance Audazo v5+ |
| Bruno Coelho, Erick Mendonça and Joselito | New Balance Audazo v5+ |
| Ferrão | Joma Regate Rebound |
| Ricardinho and Adolfo | Custom Nike TiempoX; Umbro Chaleira Pro |
| João Matos | Kipsta Ginka Pro |
| Adolfo Fernández | Kipsta Ginka Pro |
Brand share at the World Cup
Here, “share” means the proportion of tournament players reported in a brand’s footwear. A tournament supplies a useful view of elite usage, shaped by the field of teams and individual arrangements.
| Tournament | Reported Joma presence | What the evidence supports |
|---|---|---|
| Men’s World Cup 2021 Lithuania |
Approximately 40% | Joma’s 24 September 2021 report claims the largest presence. It provides a rounded percentage, rather than a player-by-player list or rival counts. [35] |
| Men’s World Cup 2024 Uzbekistan |
133 players: 40.1% of the 332 counted, 39.6% of the 336 registered | Joma claims first place, and the first-match count below gives the same 133. FIFA supplies the 336-player roster. [36, 37] |
| Brazil’s squad World Cup 2024 |
9 of 14 64.3% |
Joma Brasil’s marketing director, in a report dated 18 September during the tournament. This describes one squad, not a verified final-match count. [38] |
| Women’s World Cup 2025 Philippines |
51 players Reported second |
The body of Joma’s 1 December report explicitly places it second, despite the broader “top three” headline. Rival totals are not supplied. [39] |
A five-brand ranking reproduced in Joma’s corporate presentation adds Nike, Munich, Kipsta and Senda to the 2024 picture (Figure 1). These are published counts, not an independently audited census. [1]
Reported leading brands at the 2024 men’s World Cup
| Published rank | Brand | Players | Share of 332 counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joma | 133 | 40.1% |
| 2 | Nike | 77 | 23.2% |
| 3 | Munich | 29 | 8.7% |
| 4 | Kipsta | 25 | 7.5% |
| 5 | Senda | 19 | 5.7% |
| Other | Other brands | 49 | 14.8% |
| Absent from first match | 4 | Not counted |
How to choose your pair
Use the shortlist to choose two or three constructions to try. For a conventional leather court shoe, start with Top Flex. Compare Rebound for its different cushioning system, Morelia Sala Elite for its leather forefoot and midfoot shape, Continental for its sole construction, and Tiempo React Gato or Audazo v6 for alternative upper-and-foam combinations. These are comparison prompts; fit should settle the choice.
Try each pair in playing socks, with any insert you normally use. Check both feet. First check length: your toes should not jam into the end when you move forward. Then check heel hold and forefoot width with a controlled sideways step. Don’t size down to fix width: a shorter shoe can still be too wide.
Older advice to size down in Joma no longer applies. We checked 47 box labels across seven current 26-series Joma models: every one is true to size and grades the same as Nike, with EU 44.5 = US 10.5 = 28.5 cm. Pre-2024 Joma labelled the same 28.5 cm shoe EU 43.5 / US 10, which is where ‘size down half a size’ came from. Joma’s roomy forefoot is a separate question of width. Senda’s Ushuaia Pro 2.0 and Club 2.0 also checked true to size across eight labels.
Follow the size guide for the actual generation. The checked Morelia Sala Elite and Australian Top Sala Competition II recommend true or usual size. Width still needs a separate check. Confirm that the pair has the court outsole and satisfies your venue’s non-marking rule. [8, 15]
Finally, compare the delivered price in your size, including exchanges and returns. Once you play in them, assess braking grip, pressure points, foot movement and visible wear on your own surface. The most useful elite habit to copy is choosing a shoe you can trust repeatedly, with a fit and feel that suit how you play.
Sources
Numbered links in the text open the supporting source. Product pages describe the listed version and do not guarantee local stock. Sources checked 5 October 2026.
[1] Joma corporate presentation 2025 English edition page 15 footwear ranking
[2] Secondary reproduction of shutarofutsal caption describing a 332 player first match sample
[3] Fútbol Emotion shoes most used at UEFA Futsal EURO 2018
[4] Joma Top Flex 26 Pito edition TOPW2652IN
[5] Joma Regate Reactive 26 Graffiti RRES2676IN
[6] Nike Tiempo React Gato HQ3159-100
[7] Fútbol Emotion Top 5 high-end futsal shoes
[8] adidas Australia Top Sala Competition II JP6980
[9] adidas Top Sala Competition II KJ8567
[10] adidas first-generation Top Sala Competition IE1546 sizing
[11] Munich Continental 965 4100965
[12] New Balance Fresh Foam Audazo v6 Pro IN SA1IWB6
[13] Sprinter 2026 guide and Alicia Morell interview, updated 18 September 2026
[14] Joma Top Flex 24 TOPS2402IN construction and Rotation
[15] Mizuno Australia Morelia Sala Elite Indoor Q1GA2512
[16] Desporte Boa Vista KI PRO3 DS-2233
[18] The Influence of Forefoot Bending Stiffness of Futsal Shoes on Multiple V-Cut Run Performance
[19] Joma Top Flex Rebound 26 TORW2631IN
[20] Joma Top Flex Plus Women’s World Cup 2025 edition TOUW2576IN
[21] Munich Gresca 321 3000321
[22] Munich Brazil account of the brand’s origins and futsal history
[23] Mizuno USA Morelia Sala Japan IN
[24] Nike Lunar Gato II 580456-802
[25] New Balance Audazo v5+ colourway release, 18 July 2022
[26] nss sports Audazo v5+ launch coverage, 15 July 2021
[27] Decathlon Kipsta Ginka Pro construction and player endorsements reference 8826152
[28] Senda Ushuaia Pro 2.0 introduction
[30] Kelme shoe catalogue
[31] Penalty Max 1000 Locker Ecoknit
[32] Joma announces Ferrão sponsorship
[34] Teleprensa Joma player-edition announcement, 25 September 2026
[35] Joma reports approximately 40% at the 2021 World Cup, 24 September 2021
[36] Joma reports 133 players at the 2024 men’s World Cup
[37] FIFA Uzbekistan 2024 squad lists announced