re: Are these the fashion forward cleats of the tournament?

It's to increase agility and explosiveness by making the shoe and foot work in unison.

At least that's what Nike says. The shoe I mean.

eta: It's now banned but you used to see players wearing a white Trusox and cutting the foot off their team sock. Now they make colored Trusox so you don't see the white part anymore. Tape also must match sock color now.