Pedro Neto Cuts Holes in His Nike Mercurial Boots, Boots Tear at Pre-Cut Hole
- Torn Boot Incident: During a World Cup match, Pedro Neto's pink Nike Mercurial boot appeared destroyed after a tackle, leading him to swap footwear, though his replacement pair also featured a hole.
- Deliberate Customization: Neto intentionally cuts holes in his boots to relieve pressure and pain caused by Haglund's deformity, a medical condition that creates a bony enlargement on the heel.
- Common Professional Practice: This boot modification is not unique to Neto, as other high-profile players like Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino have also been seen making similar cutouts to manage the same heel condition.
During the 2026 World Cup match between Portugal and Spain, Pedro Neto caught the attention of fans after one of his pink Nike Mercurial boots appeared to be destroyed following a tackle. The winger showed the torn heel collar to the referee and briefly played on before swapping his footwear. However, spectators quickly noticed that his replacement pair also featured a hole in the heel.
Neto Cuts Hole in Nike Mercurial Boots
The hole in the damaged boot differed from the one in the replacement. His first pair tore at a pre-cut hole, which made the boot too unstable to keep wearing, so he switched to a second pair with the deliberately cut, more controlled hole instead.
The pre-cut hole is a specific customization used by professional players to relieve pressure and pain caused by Haglund's deformity. This medical condition involves a bony enlargement on the back of the heel that can lead to severe friction and blisters when rubbing against the stiff heel counter of modern football boots. By cutting out a section of the upper, Neto removes the direct contact point, allowing him to play comfortably without aggravating the sensitive area.
Neto is not the first high-profile player to make this exact modification to his boots. Other stars, such as Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino, have previously been spotted with similar cutouts in the heel area of their footwear to manage the same condition.