Why do some players deliberately puncture their shoes before matches?

The appearance of Portuguese star Pedro Neto wearing perforated shoes at the 2026 World Cup sparked a wide wave of interaction on social media platforms, prompting many to ask why he deliberately pierced the back of his Nike Mercurial shoe, which is worth about $315.

“Haglund syndrome”

The Athletic newspaper reported that the reason for this may be due to a health condition known as “Haglund Syndrome,” which is a deformity that occurs due to the formation of a bony protrusion in the back of the heel bone. The friction of this protrusion with hard shoes leads to irritation of the area, and thus inflammation of the tendons, which results in pain, swelling, and redness in the heel, so some players are forced to cut the back of their shoes in order to relieve the pain during matches.

The newspaper indicated that Neto did not publicly mention the reason for cutting his shoes, as it could be caused by the presence of a bubble or another form of irritation.

Hudson Gill says that the player does not modify his shoes himself, but clubs usually use a podiatrist to make the necessary change, because he knows where the parts are and how to install the shoes.

Can it be treated?

Treatment for “Haglund’s syndrome” depends on relieving pressure on the heel. Players usually control the condition through adjusting and cutting shoes, physical therapy, and exercises to strengthen the Achilles tendon and leg muscles, in addition to shock wave therapy or injections in some cases. Surgical intervention is not resorted to, unless all therapeutic methods fail to relieve the symptoms.

Neto is not the only one who cuts his shoes, as the Brazilian player, Philippe Coutinho, the Qatari Al-Sadd player, Roberto Firmino, the former Bayern Munich player, Mats Hummels, and the former Roma player, Daniele De Rossi, have previously appeared with shoes with holes in the back as well, according to “The Athletic.”