Sport3 min(s) read
Published 09:35 08 Jul 2026 GMT
Soccer fans across the world have started to notice a strange trend that is spreading rapidly across the pitches, and it certainly is not endorsed by any brand.
While eagle-eyed fans may have noticed that players have been cutting holes into their socks during major tournaments for the last few years, cutting holes into their boots appears to be a newer phenomenon.
Some players cut the back of their socks to release the pressure on their calves and help them move more freely about the pitch. They might also take scissors to their socks as a solution to ward off cramping or reduce muscle strains and fatigue during a gruelling 90-minute game.
The reason players are now cutting holes in the heels of boots, which likely cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars, is also not for aesthetic purposes. Similarly, it is more of a medical choice.
According to some of the world's best athletes, exposing the back of the heel can relieve pain and prevent inflammation. Many soccer players and Doc Martens wearers suffer from a rather niche medical condition called Haglund’s Heel.
Often called the “pump bump” by sportspeople, it is a bony bump that forms on the back of the heel bone following constant pressure and rubbing by tight, stiff shoes. Although it might seem like a minor inconvenience to most people, 90 minutes of running with tough material rubbing on it can trigger painful inflammation of the Achilles and bursitis.
This would also explain why soccer players are frequently seen wearing sliders and other open-back shoes between games; it’s not just because they can’t tie their laces.
As Haglund’s Heel plagues so many players, a changing room genius worked out that by cutting a rather large hole in the back of the boot, removing the hardest part, a huge amount of pressure is relieved and the shoes become far more comfortable to wear while running and hopefully goal scoring.
Throughout this year's World Cup, soccer fans have been speculating whether the modification is a fashion choice, some sort of medical intervention, or simply because the shoes are too small.
One X user shared another theory that suggested that players wore boots too small intentionally, writing, “Most footballers wear smaller sizes so they get a better feel for the ball, Lamine [Yamal] for example wears a couple sizes down than his normal boot size.”
Whatever the reason is, it seems to be working, as several players are making World Cup history by scoring a record number of goals already with a week and a half still left to go.
