Pedro Neto was left fuming after being forced to play with a hole in his boot during Portugal’s World Cup last-16 clash against Spain at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas. The Chelsea winger was caught on the back of his foot by a Spanish rival, tearing his Nike Zoom Mercurial Vapor 16 Elite — a cleat specifically made for this tournament — to shreds. He was spotted on live television complaining to English referee Anthony Taylor, boot in hand, revealing a grass-covered sock beneath the gaping tear. “How is it that Pedro Neto’s boot ends up in that state and there’s no card for anyone?” one fan posted online. Neto changed his boot a few minutes later, but the incident underscored the frustration of a match that remained goalless deep into the second half.
The goalless deadlock reflected the stakes. Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, is chasing his first World Cup title, having scored three goals so far — including a crucial penalty in a dramatic last-32 win over Croatia. Spain, the European champions, arrived in Dallas after a clinical 3-0 defeat of Austria, cementing their status as tournament favourites. Both sides struggled to unlock each other’s defence: Lamine Yamal forced a save from Diogo Costa, Álex Baena dragged a shot wide, and Pedri saw a deflected effort loop over. Despite second-half substitutions — João Leão and Diogo Dalot replacing João Cancelo and João Félix — the pattern remained the same. “Nothing has happened,” observed César Azpilicueta in the BBC studio.
“Pedro Neto plays with hole in boot as Portugal and Spain draw 0-0 in World Cup last-16.”
The winner of this last-16 tie will face either the United States or Belgium in the quarter-finals. For Ronaldo, the dream of lifting the trophy in North America hangs in the balance. For Neto, the memory of a shredded boot and a referee who waved play on will linger long after the final whistle.