20 Old & Modern-Day Footballers That Wear Their Socks Extremely Low
Update: There have been a few revelations ever since we first covered this topic. Therefore, we updated this article with around a dozen players that wear / wore their socks extremely low. Especially the section of former players with extremely low socks increased heavily. Thanks to Ahm65, ClausTrofob, David Hillier's suitcase, George W. Peterson, Panzergrenadier and ptee.
This season, a very interesting trend emerged amongst the playmakers of top clubs since 5 key players of big clubs started wearing their socks extremely low. In fact, players like Grealish even wear their socks lower than their shinpads which results in a very uncommon appearance.
In this article, we try to mention every major player that is overly exposing his shinbone and calfs as a quid pro quo for more mobility and an arguably better touch. It is very well possible that football socks become a problem for top-notch athletes with remarkable calfs, but there also other solutions like cutting holes into the fabric for pressure relief.
Disclaimer: All in all, this problem of oversized calfs is exclusive to professional football and we do not recommend trying this out in a regular lower-league match to prevent serious injuries.
Players That Wear Their Socks Extremely Low
Off the top of my head, there are five players that immediately stand out and they all share similar playmaking abilities although their positions and duties vary greatly in modern-day football: Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe, Aston Villa's Jack Grealish, Juventus' Paulo Dybala, Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold and Napoli's Lorenzo Insigne.
Trent Alexander-Arnold - Right-Back - Liverpool
Rodrigo de Paul - Central Midfield - Udinese Calcio
Memphis Depay - Left Winger - Olympique Lyonnais
Paulo Dybala - Second Striker - Juventus FC
Jack Grealish - Attacking Midfield - Aston Villa
Marek Hamsik - Central Midfield - Dalian Professional
Lorenzo Insigne - Left Winger - SSC Napoli
Pedri - Attacking Midfield - Barcelona
Emile Smith Rowe - Central Midfield - Arsenal
Deyovaisio Zeefuik - Right-Back - Hertha BSC
Bonus | Former Players With Extremely Low Socks
We can only remember two former players that also wore their socks extremely low: Rui Costa and Alexander Paulavich Hleb. If you know anybody else that did this feel free to let us know.
Laurent Blanc - Centre-Back - Barcelona, Inter, Manchester United
Mauro Cantoro - Attacking Midfield - Vélez Sarsfield, Wisla Kraków
Steve Claridge - Centre-Forward - Leicester, Portsmouth, Wolves
Rui Costa - Sporting Director - Benfica, AC Milan
Alexander Paulavich Hleb - Attacking Midfield - VfB Stuttgart, Arsenal, Barcelona
Sören Lerby - Central Midfield - Ajax, Bayern Munich, Monaco, PSV Eindhoven
Gerd Müller - Centre-Forward - Bayern Munich
Omar Sívori - Second Striker - River Plate, Juventus, Napoli
Francesco Totti - Second Striker, Centre-Forward, Attacking Midfield - AS Roma
Juan Sebastián Verón - Central Midfield - Chelsea, Inter, Manchester United
Did we forget any players that wear their socks ridiculously low? Is there a theme of certain players that make this conscious decision? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below.
Vintage Football Shirts
from Cult Kits
1994/95 AC Milan Savicevic #10 Home Shirt (M) Lotto
2006 Japan Adidas Samurai Blue Supporters Tee (M)
1994 Germany Reusable Face Mask
2003 Japan Adidas 'No Life Without Football' Leisure T-Shirt (S)
2011/12 New York Cosmos *BNWOT* Baseball Fleece Jacket (XL) Umbro
2004/05 Puma *BNWT* Template Shirt (S)
2003/04 Czech Republic Home Shirt (XL) Puma
2018/19 Spain Isco #22 Home Shirt (L) Adidas
2000/01 Valencia Aimar #22 Home Shirt (M) Nike
1995/96 Torino #3 L/S Home Shirt (S) Lotto
Konyaspor 26-27 Special Kit Vote
Turkish Super Lig side Konyaspor has officially handed the design reins to its supporters by launching a fan vote to select the club's 2026-27 alternative kit, with three bespoke Hummel designs currently up for debate.
The "Anatolian Eagles" are offering a diverse menu of choices: a vibrant green-and-white checkered pattern that evokes a classic retro feel, a clean half-and-half vertical split with intricate chevron detailing on the sleeves, and a minimalist white base featuring a sharp green horizontal band across the chest.
In a nod to the club's heritage, the poll is scheduled to close this Friday, May 15 at exactly 19:22 - a tribute to the club’s founding year.
Vote here now: https://www.konyaspor.org.tr/forma-oylama
UEFA Unveil Official 2026 Champions League Final Jersey for Budapest
UEFA have officially unveiled the commemorative jersey for the 2026 Champions League final, set to take place at the Puskás Aréna on May 30, 2026. The limited-edition shirt celebrates the culture and architecture of Budapest, combining local inspiration with signature Champions League branding.
The jersey features a modern graphic design with abstract paint-splatter effects and architectural references inspired by the Hungarian capital. On the front, the shirt includes a stylized illustration of the Puskás Arena alongside the iconic Champions League starball logo, while the official Budapest 2026 final emblem appears centrally on the design. The back carries the number “26”, completing the event-specific identity.
UEFA will make the shirt available through the official Champions League store and selected retailers in Budapest ahead of the final. The jersey will also appear in EA Sports FC 26 Ultimate Team during a special in-game campaign running from May 23 to 30.
What do you think of UEFA’s official Budapest 2026 final jersey? Let us know in the comments below.
Jeonbuk Hyundai 2026 ‘Black Label’ Special Kit Released
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors have revealed a new “Black Label” special kit, described by the club as an “unexpected charm” inspired by darkness, gold accents and a more intense visual identity.
The special edition was created together with artists Lee Yongwoo and Pipimik. According to the club, the design combines a quieter and more refined mood with stronger visual impact.
There is also a yellow kit - this serves as the keeper.
The “Black Label” jersey will first go on sale at the official club store from May 15 to 17 before an online release from May 19 to 21. Players are set to debut the shirt on May 17 against Gimcheon Sangmu FC.
FC Sion x Lydie&Sasha 26-26 Special Kit Released
FC Sion have unveiled a special-edition kit for the final home game of the 2025-26 season against FC Lugano. The unique shirt was created in collaboration with Valais-based graphic designers Lydie Sarrasin and Sasha Piaia, continuing the club’s recent tradition of working with local artists on special kits.
The design boasts a very more modern look. According to FC Sion, the shirt is intended as a bridge between generations, mixing classic football aesthetics with forward-looking visual elements. The kit will be worn in the final home match at the Stade de Tourbillon.
The limited-edition shirt will be sold exclusively on matchday in the stadium fanshop
