From Ronaldo’s triangle to Chris Waddle’s mullet and Romania’s Slim Shady tribute act, the World Cup has seen its fair share of dodgy haircuts down the years, as Daily Star Sport discovers
Colombia legend Carlos Valderrama is responsible for one of the most iconic World Cup haircuts of all time
The World Cup is a place where great goals are scored, incredible matches are played – and dodgy haircuts are mocked on Twitter.
Fortunately for Ronaldo (the original one), social media wasn’t around when he shaved a patch of hair resembling a Dairylea triangle into his head during the 1998 World Cup. Otherwise, he could have been in big trouble.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t look back in horror – and in some cases, great fondness – at those stars who dared to do something different with their hair. So, as the world gears up for 2022 Qatar World Cup, Daily Star Sport is taking some time out to remember the most iconic hairstyles in the tournament’s history.
Carlos Valderrama
Carlos Valderrama’s afro was the stuff of legend
Haircuts don’t come much more iconic than Carlos Valderrama. The Colombian hero sported his bushy barnet at three World Cups, earning cult status among football fans along the way.
Remarkably, the ex-midfielder, who is now 60, threatened to shave off his luscious locks if his country won the 2018 World Cup. But, thankfully, England proved the saviours, with Gareth Southgate’s side knocking Colombia out on penalties in the last-16.
Chris Waddle
They don’t do haircuts like this anymore – and with good reason
Chris Waddle’s mullet is stuff of legend. In fact, we’re surprised he never donated a lock of it to the National Football Museum. With thick waves at the top and a tastefully dyed lower portion, Waddle looked like a champion thoroughbred as he galloped down the left wing for England.
Most people would assume that Waddle’s hair was a fashion statement. But in actual fact, the decision to grow his hair was down to superstition. “I had short hair when I started playing and I got injured a lot,” Waddle revealed last year.
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“Then I let it grow a bit and the injuries stayed away from me. So in my head, I put the haircut down as the reason why my luck had turned. It might have had nothing to do with that, of course, but in my head that’s what I believed.”
Romania ’98 team
Got enough hair dye on your barnets there, lads?
The Romanian National Team at the 1998 World Cup provided 11 dodgy hair cuts for the price of one after the entire squad dyed their hair blonde. The Romanian side made the odd decision following their group stage victory over England with the intention of bringing them good luck.
But as peroxide providers in Bucharest counted their profits, the Slim Shady tribute act in France fell flat in the last-16, where they lost to Croatia. Everyone’s entitled to a blonde moment now and then, but this was something different entirely.
Ronaldo’s triangle
Ronaldo didn’t pull any punches with his haircut at the 2002 World Cup
Ronaldo was a goalscoring genius, being part of the Brazil squad to win two World Cup victories in 1994 and 2002 and a runner-spot in 1998. But one thing he wasn’t was an ace stylist – as his haircut in Japan and South Korea proved.
For a reason only known to him and him alone, the Real Madrid legend rocked up to the country’s semi-final against Turkey with a tiny patch of hair in the shape of a triangle on his head. His haircut certainly didn’t distract from his performances, as Brazil lifted the Jules Rimet trophy for the fifth time, helped in no small part by Ronaldo’s eight goals.
“It was horrible,” Ronaldo told Sports Illustrated last year after he revealed the idea behind his dodgy cut was to get journalists talking about his hair rather than his injury. “I apologise to all the mothers who saw their children get the same haircut.”
Taribo West
Championship manager Taribo West turned plenty of heads with his questionable haircut
Championship Manager legend Taribo West rocked up to the 1998 World Cup sporting a haircut that looked a cross between a girl’s braids and…well…we don’t know, quite frankly.
Whatever the inspiration behind the unique look, football fans still fondly remember the Nigerian icon, who had spells with Derby County and Plymouth Argyle in the UK.
Abel Xavier
Abel Xavier (centre) played for both Liverpool and Everton during his club career
Former Liverpool and Everton defender Abel Xavier only made 20 appearances for Portugal, but he made them count. The eclectic full-back was named in the Portuguese squad for the 2002 World Cup – surely the peak tournament for questionable haircuts – and wowed fans with his bleach blonde hair.
His bleached hair and beard combo truly was something to behold. But it was nothing compared to some of the other hairstyles he sported during his career, some of which put David Beckham’s propensity for changing his locks to shame.
Rene Higuita
You don’t argue with Rene Higuita
The life of Colombian legend Rene Higuita is almost as wild as his hairstyle. The iconic goalkeeper, who missed the 1994 World Cup after being thrown in jail, is remembered by most for his scorpion kick against England at Wembley in 1995.
Higuita clearly isn’t shy of putting himself out there, so you’d have to think twice before mocking his long, curly locks that gave Rapunzel a run for her money. Marry it all up with the 1980s tash, and you have a readymade style icon.
Roberto Baggio
Roberto Baggio had a dodgy haircut and missed the decisive penalty in the 1994 World Cup final – gutted
Italy legend Roberto Baggio went by the nickname ‘Il Divin Codino,’ which translates as ‘the divine ponytail’ – and it’s easy to see why.
The 55-year-old’s haircut looked perfectly normal and professional from the front. But a quick look around the back revealed several strands of hair that looked more like a rat’s tail than anything else.
The hairdressing gods clearly weren’t a fan of Baggio’s barnet, because although he top scored at the 1994 World Cup, he also missed the decisive penalty in the final against Brazil.
Source: dailystar.co.uk
