FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
An unusual detail during the 2026 World Cup round of 16 match between Portugal and Spain has caught the attention of fans around the world.
The cameras focused several times on Portugal striker Pedro Neto, who was playing with a punctured right boot in the heel.
The footage immediately went viral on social media, with many fans thinking it was an injury sustained during the game or a malfunction in the equipment. However, the reason is completely different and is related to a health problem.
Even when the Portuguese national team's storekeeper brought him another pair of shoes during the match, they had been modified in the same place, confirming that the hole had been made intentionally.
According to reports, Neto suffers from Haglund's syndrome, a condition that affects the back of the heel. This pathology causes a protrusion of bone near the Achilles tendon, which constantly rubs against the hard part of the shoe, causing pain and inflammation.
For professional footballers who use very tight shoes, the pressure in that area can become unbearable. That's why an opening is created at the back of the shoe, eliminating friction and allowing the player to move without pain.
This is not the first time a footballer has faced this problem. In the past, well-known names such as Mats Hummels and Eljif Elmas have also suffered from the same syndrome.
Initial treatment usually includes the use of modified shoes, special insoles, physiotherapy, and anti-inflammatory medications.
The final solution remains surgical intervention to remove the bone spur, but due to the long recovery time, many footballers choose to postpone the operation and continue playing with custom-made shoes, as in the case of Pedro Neto.
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