Why Do Some Soccer Players Cut the Heels Off Their Cleats?

Why Do Some Soccer Players Cut the Heels Off Their Cleats? An image of Portugal forward Pedro Neto's cleats at the World Cup has reignited a practice among some soccer players: modifying their cleats to relieve heel discomfort. During this year's World Cup, one very peculiar image caught the attention of fans and commentators: Portuguese forward Pedro Neto played a match with the back of his cleats cut off, right above the heel. The modification was intended to relieve pressure on a particularly sensitive area of his foot. Although the image went viral, it's not new.