FIFA World Cup fans have spotted a bizarre detail on the pitch, with some of the tournament’s biggest stars modifying their boots with a hole in the heel.
Soccer supporters have spent years wondering why so many England players slice holes in the backs of their socks before matches. Now, a similar trend has made its way to their footwear, with some of the biggest names in the game taking scissors to boots worth hundreds of dollars.
The unusual customization caught widespread attention during Portugal’s World Cup clash with Spain, when winger Pedro Neto appeared to damage one of his bright pink Nike Mercurial boots during the challenge.
As Neto showed the torn heel of his almost $400 football boot to the referee before changing footwear, eagle-eyed viewers noticed something even stranger. His replacement pair also had a hole cut into the back.
The difference was that the new boot had a fresh cutout in the heel – not one that appeared to be torn from wear.
Internet questions heel hole
Photos of the boots quickly spread across social media, prompting fans to wonder whether the unusual design was part of a new trend or simply a damaged pair of cleats.
“Why do footballers cut open the back of their boots? I spotted Pedro Neto doing it yesterday against Spain,” one X user asked while sharing an image of Neto and his holey boots.
“I think this was a tackle that spoilt his boots he had them changed mid game,” a second user suggested in the comment section, inspiring the original poster to reply: “Bro they changed the boot and brought him this one with cut at the back.”
