The 22 Most Iconic Hairstyles in Soccer History

From Ronaldo's iconic triangle shave to Ruud Gullit's legendary dreadlocks, football has given us some of the most unforgettable hairstyles in sports history. Whether it's a statement mohawk, a flowing ponytail, or a perfectly permed afro — which footballer's haircut made the biggest impression of all time?

1. 1
   Carlos Valderrama's Afro

   El Pibe's towering golden-blond Afro is one of the most distinctive sights in World Cup history, worn by the Colombian legend throughout his career.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Paul Pogba's Mohawk Lines

   Pogba's ever-changing mohawks with intricate shaved lines and colour experiments made him the most talked-about style player of the 2010s.
   926pts
3. 3
   Roberto Baggio's Ponytail

   The Italian maestro's signature long ponytail, inseparable from his brilliant career at Fiorentina and Juventus in the late 1980s and 1990s.
   926pts
4. 4
   David Luiz's Curls

   The Brazilian defender's huge mop of curls bounced through spells at Chelsea, PSG and Arsenal and earned him the Sideshow Bob comparison from English fans.
   714pts
5. 5
   Messi's Mullet

   Leo Messi's shaggy teenage mullet from his breakthrough years at Barcelona around 2005, a look fans still recall from his first La Liga highlights.
   694pts
6. 6
   Neymar's Batman Logo

   Neymar turned up to Brazil training with a platinum blond crop and a large Batman logo shaved into the side of his head.
   629pts
7. 7
   Mario Balotelli's Mohawk

   Super Mario's exaggerated mohawk, worn during his time at Manchester City and AC Milan, perfectly matched his larger-than-life personality.
   629pts
8. 8
   Marouane Fellaini's Afro

   The Belgian midfielder's towering curly afro made him instantly recognisable at Everton and Manchester United, where fans turned up wearing replica wigs.
   555pts
9. 9
   Edgar Davids's Dreadlocks

   The Dutch midfielder paired long dreadlocks with protective goggles at Ajax, Juventus and Barcelona, one of the most distinctive looks of his era.
   555pts
10. 10
    Hector Bellerin's Man Bun

    The Arsenal right-back's fashionable long hair and man bun in the mid-2010s made him a crossover style icon beyond the football world.
    470pts
11. 11
    Zlatan Ibrahimović's Man Bun

    Zlatan Ibrahimović's long hair pulled back into a tight bun or ponytail became part of his warrior image at Milan, PSG and Manchester United.
    470pts
12. 12
    Ruud Gullit's Dreadlocks

    The Dutch maestro's flowing dreadlocks were revolutionary for a top-level European footballer in the 1980s, cementing his image as a style icon.
    470pts
13. 13
    Kevin Keegan's Perm

    The English legend's iconic tightly permed curls in the 1970s–80s, a true product of its era and one of the most recognisable looks in football history.
    470pts
14. 14
    Sergio Ramos's Long Hair

    The Spanish captain's flowing dark hair tied back, worn through Real Madrid's dominant Champions League winning years, becoming part of his fearsome image.
    470pts
15. 15
    Carles Puyol's Curly Mane

    Barcelona's captain played through a decade of titles with a wild shoulder-length mane of curls that matched his fearless, all-action defending.
    470pts
16. 16
    Ronaldo's Triangle

    R9 Ronaldo's bizarre 2002 World Cup shaved patch — a tiny island of hair on the forehead that became one of the most talked-about cuts in football history.
    370pts
17. 17
    Pierluigi Collina's Bald Head

    The Italian referee's completely hairless head, caused by alopecia, made him the most recognisable official in the world when he took charge of the 2002 World Cup final.
    370pts
18. 18
    Bobby Charlton's Comb-Over

    England's 1966 World Cup winner swept his thinning hair across his head, a comb-over that fans later voted among football's most memorable haircuts.
    252pts
19. 19
    Abel Xavier's Bleached Look

    The Portuguese defender's bleached white-blond hair and matching platinum beard turned heads in the late 1990s Premier League, impossible to forget.
    252pts
20. 20
    Beckham's Mohawk

    David Beckham's bold faux hawk/mohawk unveiled at the 2002 World Cup, launching a wave of imitations from schoolyards to barbershops across the world.
    252pts
21. 21
    Gareth Bale's Man Bun

    The Welsh winger's neat man bun became a symbol of his Real Madrid years and inspired a generation of footballers to grow out their hair.
    252pts
22. 22
    Ronaldinho's Long Curls

    The Brazilian's long dark curls, often held back by a headband, framed his famous grin during his Ballon d'Or years at Barcelona.
    0pts

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