Pedro Neto Cuts Holes in His Nike Mercurial Boots

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 featured also a hole in the heel. However, what some did not see was that the hole of the broken shoes was different from the replacement boot. His first pair of Nike Mercurial boots got torn in the pre-cut hole, apparently making it not stable enough to play with them, so he got the replacement shoe with the custom hole. 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.