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Best Knee Supports for Football 2024

3 January 2024

Quick movements, bursts of energy. and constant twisting and turning are all part of a fast-paced game of football, but after 90 minutes this can have a detrimental impact on your knees. It's no surprise then that knee injuries are one of the most common among footballers, taking them out of action for an excruciatingly long period of time.

Rest is important to allow the injury to heal properly, but once you feel ready, a knee support will give you added confidence and safety when making your return. To help you find the right support for the job, we took the time to research the Best Knee Supports for Football, and compiled what we found here in an easy-to-read format.

What Will This Guide Cover?

The brace you need will ultimately depend on which condition or injury you have. This guide covers all the main conditions that affect both competitive and casual footballers, including arthritis, tendonitis and ACL injuries. We've also included a value option, the best all-rounder and an ice pack for treating knee pain at the end of each game.

Follow the quick-links below to skip straight to what you're looking for!


Best All-Round Knee Support for Football

Winner: Ultimate Performance Wraparound Runner's Knee Support Strap

Ultimate Performance Wraparound Runner's Knee Support Strap

Why We Love It...

 Three compartments protect each part of the knee
 Minimalistic design provides total movement freedom
 Compression tubing targets the patella tendon
 Adjustable straps ensure the perfect, supportive fit

Perfect For...

 Moderate patella instabilities
 ITB Syndrome 
 Runner's Knee

Not the Best For...

 Arthritis (See our solution)
 Impact protection (See our solution)

Our Verdict: With a clever design that's both supportive and discreet, the Ultimate Performance Support Strap takes our spot for the best all-round knee support for football. Giving your knees plenty of room to breathe and move freely, this innovative brace provides support for multiple conditions, and never disrupts your stride.

See What Our Customers Say: "I have used the Runner's Knee Strap for a few weeks and the knee is feeling better. It has given me more confidence to slowly increase my running distance" - Neil

Runner Up: Thuasne Genuaction Elastic Knee Support


Best ACL Knee Support for Football

Winner: Donjoy Armor Knee Brace with FourcePoint Hinge

Donjoy Armor Knee Brace with Fourcepoint Hinge

Why We Love It...

 Four-Points-of-Leverage system reduces load on the ACL
 FourcePoint hinge decreases ACL pressure by up to 13%
 Aircraft-quality aluminium frame is lightweight yet strong
 Anti-migration supra condyle pads for comfort

Perfect For...

 ACL, PCL and LCL instabilities
 Post ACL reconstruction surgery
 Meniscus injury

Not the Best For...

 Affordability (See our solution)
 Arthritis (See our solution)

Our Verdict: ACL injuries are probably the most common for high-level footballers, mainly due to the impact all the twisting and turning has on the knees. Designed specifically for this issue, the Donjoy Armor Knee Brace offloads pressure away from the injured ligament to let you move with barely a hint of pain. However, you may also need to buy a sports cover to prevent harming other players in a one-on-one.

When We Asked Donjoy, They Said: "The Donjoy Armor is great for sports because of what it's made of; the flexible steel hinge and aluminium frame makes it lightweight but strong"

Runner Up: Donjoy Full Force ACL Protection Knee Brace with FourcePoint


Best Arthritis Knee Support for Football

Winner: Donjoy Reaction Web Knee Brace

Donjoy Reaction Web Knee Brace

Why We Love It...

 Unique web design disperses impacts to mitigate strain
 Dual axis hinges offer stability and security for the kneecap
 Webbing works like a loaded spring to boost knee power
 Open frame and mesh backing provide breathable comfort

Perfect For...

 Osteoarthritis and rheumatism
 Patella tendonitis
 Osgood-Schlatter's disease

Not the Best For...

 Compression (See our solution)
 Mobility (See our solution)

Our Verdict: When it comes to arthritis, you'll need a brace that absorbs vibrations in order to counter the high impact movements that the game demands. That's why the Donjoy Reaction is the best option. With its unique web design, the Reaction absorbs impact shock to prevent strain on joints that have been weakened by arthritis.

When We Asked Donjoy, They Said: "Perfect for running, jumping and kicking thanks to its ability to absorb shock energy on impact"

Runner Up: Donjoy Playmaker II Pull-On Knee Brace


Best Tendonitis Knee Support for Football

Winner: Neo G Patella Knee Support Strap

Neo G Patella Knee Support Strap

Why We Love It...

 Low-profile patella strap offers minimal restriction
 Delivers compression over the tendon to relieve tendonitis
 Adjustable band allows variable levels of compression
 Minimal design allows free movement and breathability

Perfect For...

 Tendonitis and tendinosis
 Osgood-Schlatter disease
 Patella pain and maltracking

Not the Best For...

 Osteoarthritis (See our solution)
 Ligament injury (See our solution)

Our Verdict: Providing compression directly across the patella tendon, the Neo G Strap wastes no time in treating tendonitis. The adjustable strap lets you customise compression so that you get the exact level of support you need, and its unobtrusive design won't hold your performance back.

See What Our Customers Say: "Very comfortable and has really helped me when playing on Astroturf. About to buy another one." - Chris

Runner Up: Ultimate Performance Advanced Patella Tendon Knee Strap


Best Goalkeeper Knee Pads for Football

Winner: Rehband PRN Speed Neoprene Knee Pad Support (5mm)

Rehband PRN Speed Neoprene Knee Pad Support (5mm)

Why We Love It...

 Knee support with extra padding to cushion ground impacts
 5mm thickness provides firm support and impact protection
 Warming compression eases pain and boosts performance
 Velour low-friction material prevents rubbing and chafing

Perfect For...

 Goalkeepers
 Rugby, football, volleyball and wrestling
 Patellofemoral pain, general pain, anterior pain

Not the Best For...

 Osgood-Schlatter disease (See our solution)
 Ligament injury (See our solution)

Our Verdict: Goalkeepers have the hardest job in football, putting their body on the line for the sake of the team. But all that diving around can have a damaging impact on the knees if precaution isn't taken. That's where the Rehband PRN Knee Pad makes its mark. This dual-purpose support provides premium heat compression while protecting against impacts at the same time.

Runner Up: LP Deluxe Neoprene Knee Pad


Best Value Knee Support for Football

Winner: Oppo Pull-On Elastic Knee Support

Oppo Pull-On Elastic Knee Support

Why We Love It...

 Elasticated support provides gentle knee compression
 Improves proprioception and relieves muscle stiffness
 Four-way stretch allows you to run and kick as normal
 Low-cost price for those on who need an affordable support

Perfect For...

 Budget restraints
 Flexibility and comfort
 Arthritis, sprains and strains

Not the Best For...

 Impact protection (See our solution)
 Instability (See our solution)

Our Verdict: If your budget is stretched, the LP Elastic Knee Support does a great job of keeping you supported without leaving a dent in your bank balance. Its elasticated material provides gentle compression throughout the knee, and a special four-way stretch design gives you freedom to move.

See What Our Customers Say: "Does what it says. Great support without the bulk. No seams so no digging into the skin. Well worth the cost which is less than high street retailers." - Eileen

Runner Up: LP Elastic Knee Support


Best Knee Pain Ice Pack for Football

Winner: Dura Soft Knee Sleeve Knee Ice Pack Wrap

Dura Soft Knee Sleeve Knee Ice Pack Wrap

Why We Love It...

 Advanced hands-free ice pack wrap to ease pain and swelling
 Wraps around the leg, secured in place by two straps
 Complete with two inserts that bend around the leg
 Can be used for either hot or cold therapy 

Perfect For...

 Pre-match warmup
 Post-match rehab
 Arthritis, tendonitis, ACL injury and more

Not the Best For...

 Mobility (See our solution)
 Impact protection (See our solution)

Our Verdict: Trusted by thousands of athletes around the world, the Dura Soft Ice Pack Wrap is the perfect way to ease pain, swelling and tension after a match. The brace administers either hot or cold therapy, with strong Velcro straps that keep the brace secure around the knee – far less hassle then holding a bag of frozen peas!

See What Our Customers Say: "This product is much better than a homemade ice pack. The gel moulds around your knee, and the compression helps. Once removed your knee stays cold. I wish I bought it sooner." - Palbinder

Runner Up: LP Hot and Cold Compression Pack

Show Knee Pain the Red Card

Returning from a knee injury can take a long time, but our expert-recommended knee braces will help you get back in action sooner. We hope you've found the knee support that's right for you, but if not, there's plenty more to choose from in our full range of knee supports. Follow the links below to find a brace for your favourite sport.

If you've got any burning questions about any of our supports or braces, don't hesitate to ask! Let us know in the comments down below, and we'd be more than happy to help.