Why do Jude Bellingham and other footballers cut holes in their socks?

Stay tuned to our Euro 2024 final live blog for all the latest scores and updates.

England's Jude Bellingham, a midfielder, is one of the many top soccer players who opt to create openings in their socks. This trend is becoming more and more common as a way to enhance comfort for the legs during games.

A lot of athletes think that their calf muscles feel too tight when they wear socks that are too small, especially in the later parts of games. When the blood flow to the muscles increases during games, the calves get bigger because of the hard work.

Doctors have stated that socks that are too tight can limit the amount of oxygen reaching the muscles, leading to discomfort.

The problem is often heightened when players choose to wear fresh socks for each game. These socks tend to be more snug since the material hasn't been worn in yet.

Bellingham was spotted wearing socks with holes in them once again during the Euro 2024 final against Spain on Sunday night.

English players Kyle Walker, Bukayo Saka, and Conor Gallagher are some of the players who often create openings in their socks before games.

In 2021, Walker mentioned that the socks he was wearing were too tight and putting too much pressure on his calves. To alleviate the tension, he decided to cut holes in them. Surprisingly, after doing so, he had a few good games and decided to continue wearing them that way.

Another player from England's national team, Jack Grealish, has a unique way of dealing with his tight socks. Grealish, who didn't make the cut for Euro 2024, has always worn his socks rolled down below his calves during his career.

"That's something I've been doing since I was young," he mentioned in 2022. "I remember when I was around 14 or 15 at Villa, the socks would always shrink in the wash. During training, I couldn't pull them up because they were too tight around my calves."

I began wearing them beneath my lower legs during practice sessions, and that year my performance on the field was excellent. It became a habit for me because I had such a successful season.