Explained: Why Pedro Neto cuts holes in his football boots
by Moronfolu Adeyemi · The Eagle OnlinePortugal and Chelsea winger Pedro Neto drew global attention during his country’s FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash against Spain after appearing with unusual holes cut into the heels of his football boots.
The modification became a talking point after Neto’s pink Nike Mercurial boots tore at the pre-cut section following a challenge, forcing him to change into another pair that featured the same heel cutouts.
Although Neto has not publicly explained why his boots were modified, one possible reason is Haglund’s deformity, a heel condition that can make tightly fitted football boots painful to wear.
A blister or another form of heel irritation could also explain the adjustment.
According to boot and equipment specialists Footy Headlines, cutting away part of the heel counter can reduce pressure on the back of the heel, allowing players managing Haglund’s deformity to continue competing without aggravating the condition.
Haglund’s deformity is a bony enlargement at the back of the heel that can irritate the Achilles tendon and the fluid-filled bursa that cushions the area.
Bartholomew Hudson-Gill, a physiotherapist at Opus Biological near Harley Street in London who has worked with elite footballers at a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, described the condition as a combination of changes affecting the heel bone, Achilles tendon and bursa.
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“That bursa, essentially, is like a shock absorber,” Hudson-Gill said.
“The tendon becomes thicker, the bursa gets irritated, then the bone starts to get irritated.
“They load it more, it gets more sore. That soreness means there are changes in the bone, which means it then gets more sore.”
According to Hudson-Gill, treatment is usually aimed at reducing irritation rather than removing the bony prominence.
Once symptoms are brought under control, players gradually rebuild strength before returning to full football activities.
However, during a season or major tournament, the priority is often to manage the pain rather than stop playing altogether.
“They’re not going to stop playing because of a little bit of pain in the back of their heel,” Hudson-Gill said.
“They might be needed for a cup final or World Cup qualifiers.”
The practice is not unique to Neto.
Brazilian internationals Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino have previously used similar heel cutouts to relieve friction caused by comparable heel problems.
Although surgery can remove the excess bone associated with Haglund’s deformity, recovery can take several months, making customised footwear a preferred solution for many professional footballers.
The condition is named after Swedish surgeon Patrick Haglund, who first described it in 1927.
Nearly a century later, modifying the heel of a football boot remains one of the simplest ways players manage persistent discomfort while continuing to compete at the highest level.
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