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@Greenbank
The laws of the game require players to wear shinpads but there's nothing in the laws about the size, so the players that hate playing in shinpads wear the smallest ones they can get away with (any smaller and a ref might say they aren't "shinpads").
They're a bit of an anathema nowadays. Back in the old days of football boots were thick and players less skilful, so the most likely injury was someone trying to kick the ball, missing, and kicking your shins. Your foot being stamped on was less of a problem given the protection the older boots gave.
Nowadays the players are more skilful and less likely to boot you in the middle of the shin. You'll see many more injuries on the back of the legs/ankles (the Achilles heel protectors are more common but not easy visible). The boots are now also paper thin in comparison, so even the mildest contact of another players boot/studs/moulds on the top of the foot is very painful (and shinpads do nothing for this).