Soccer stars are as much preening peacocks as they are dynamic athletes — a dualism that’s given us tons of wild hairdos at this year’s World Cup.
From dreadlocks to dye jobs, ’fros to fades, and every flavor or Mohawk in between, these are the would-be Beckhams dominating the FIFA hottie hair game.
Arturo Vidal of Chile
EPA (left); Getty Images (right)No old-fashioned faux hawks for this midfielder. The footballer prefers to get creative with the clippers, carving ferocious designs (some see talons, we see rainbows . . .) into his head-butting scalp.
Asamoah Gyan of Ghana
Getty Images (left); Reuters (right)Winners don’t just buzz a Mohawk — they dye jersey numbers into their temples. Gyan is a mere digit away from
chic.
Bacary Sagna of France
Reuters (left); AP (right)Part bumblebee, part Whoopi Goldberg, pure braided glory. What inspired the Frenchman’s signature coiffure?
, apparently.
Daley Blind of the Netherlands
Getty Images (2)The Amsterdam-born footballer could be a great athlete, but he has Adonis-like hair, so who cares? Blind has the ideal length, color and wavy texture that seem to only get better with sweat.
This is what dreams are made of.
Die Serey of Ivory Coast
Getty Images (left); EPA (right)Here’s a fine case of intimidation tactics. The puffy peroxide landing strip that comprises the Ivorian’s Mohawk makes him look like a wolverine, or
from “Gremlins.”
Ermin Bicakcic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Getty Images (2)With slicked-up spikes and shaved sides, Bicakcic is an ’80s tracksuit and two gold chains shy of all-out Eastern Euro luxe.
Georgios Samaras of Greece
Getty Images (left); EPA (right)Serving “Jesus Christ Superstar” 24/7.
Kyle Beckerman of the United States
Getty Images (left); EPA (right)An obvious Bob Marley infatuation is to thank for this midfielder’s head of dirty blond dreads. Consistently paired with scruff and a disarming smile, this Tarzan has us a little infatuated, too.
Marouane Fellaini of Belgium
Reuters (2)At 6-foot-4, what’s 2 — or 5, or 10 — more inches of hair, especially when it’s as luminous and buoyant as Fellaini’s. Solange? Fro-geddaboutit.
Neymar of Brazil
Getty Images (2)Like Madonna, Neymar is now single-name status, essentially requiring he have an iconic haircut. Good or bad, the superstar is fiercely loyal to thick bangs, buzzed sides and a very close relative of the rat tail.
Paul Pogba of France
AP (left); Getty Images (right)For Pogba, hair is art. The Lagny-sur-Marne-born player starts with a sculpted mix of Mohawk and high-top fade, then employs peroxide with an artist’s flair — a splash here, a contour there, the occasional stripe for accent. Très French.
Raul Meireles of Portugal
AP (2)He’s from Porto, Portugal, but may as well be from Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The midfielder rocks a true Mohawk with a thick beard to rival any regional hipster.
