Portuguese striker Pedro Neto stood out during a World Cup clash between Portugal and Spain, but not just for his performance on the pitch. An atypical detail caught attention: a tear in his boot, in the heel area. While modifying socks with holes in them is a familiar scenario in football, altering footwear is considerably less common, although not unheard of.
Details of Pedro Neto’s appearance on the pitch
Pedro Neto was spotted with an opening in the back of his boot during the crucial match against Spain. The repercussion came precisely because the cut in rigid shoes is a rarer intervention than perforations in socks, which many athletes do to relieve muscle compression in the calf and facilitate circulation.
So far, the Portuguese player has not spoken publicly to explain the exact reason for the change. However, Pedro Neto’s history includes previous heel surgery, the result of a strain in his lateral ligaments that ruled him out of the previous World Cup in 2022. This information adds important context as to the possible reason for the change in his equipment.
The most accepted hypothesis for this type of adjustment is the search for comfort. Many athletes modify their cleats to reduce the pressure placed on specific points of the foot, such as the heel, toe area or sides. Pedro Neto has performed at World Cup games with this adaptation visible in the ankle region of his shoes.
Other well-known names in football, such as Philippe Coutinho, Daniele De Rossi and Mats Hummels, have also been spotted wearing modified boots in matches. In many situations, the main objective is to avoid problems such as blisters, calluses, painful nails or any type of uncomfortable friction in particularly sensitive areas of the foot, especially in athletes with a history of injuries that can be aggravated by the compression of standard footwear.
Possible reasons for cuts in the boot
The justification for cutting the boot varies depending on the location of the opening. When the tear is located on the back of the heel, one of the strongest theories points to pain relief caused by persistent blisters or an orthopedic condition known as Haglund’s deformity, which is characterized by a bony protrusion on the back of the calcaneus bone.
If the cut appears on the front of the shoe, the intention may be to relieve excessive pressure on the toes. Mats Hummels, for example, was photographed with perforations in the toes of his football boots to mitigate discomfort in his toes. At the time, reports in the international press indicated that he suffered from pain in his fingers and was unable to exert much pressure on them.
Philippe Coutinho and Daniele De Rossi are other examples of players who have adopted this practice. Coutinho sported a large hole in the heel of his football boot in 2017 while playing for Bayern Munich. Daniele De Rossi had a similar case in 2019, also with a cut on the left heel.
Altering football boots is considered more risky and less common than cutting socks, as the fabric of socks is easily adaptable. Football boots, in turn, have a more rigid structure and play a crucial role in supporting, kicking, stability and protecting the foot.
For this reason, boot modification is generally a measure taken only when there is significant discomfort that impacts the athlete’s performance. During the game, Pedro Neto requested to change his boot, and the replacement shoe also had the identical cut in the same place.
Do football rules allow this modification?
The rules governing the sport do not automatically prohibit the use of boots with some type of opening. According to the regulations of the IFAB (International Football Association Board), the body responsible for football laws, players must wear shoes, but are prohibited from using any equipment that could be considered dangerous. The final decision on allowing equipment rests with the referee team, who carry out an assessment before or during the match.
If the opening in the shoe does not pose any type of risk to the physical integrity of the player himself or his opponents, the tendency is for the athlete to be allowed to continue on the field. The referee has the power to veto the equipment if he identifies loose ends, tears that could cause injuries, exposed material or any element that compromises the safety of everyone involved in the game.
