Quick answer: Soccer player haircuts range from famous signature looks, such as the ponytail, mohawk, man bun and bleached crop, to short, practical cuts like buzz cuts, textured crops and fades. The best match-day cuts keep hair out of the eyes, dry quickly and hold up through heading and sweat.
Soccer Player Haircut Styles at a Glance
Every style on this page with its clipper guard, top length and trim interval. Tap a name to jump to that card.
Soccer player haircuts have set trends for decades, from 1970s perms and 1990s ponytails to faux hawks, man buns and bleached crops. This gallery collects 44 of them: widely photographed looks from famous footballers, long-hair styles that stay put during a match, and short cuts built for training. Each card gives the cut, the guard numbers and how to ask your barber for it.
Why Do Soccer Players Have Such Distinctive Haircuts?
Footballers are filmed in close-up for 90 minutes in front of large audiences, so their hair is seen far more than most athletes', who wear helmets or caps. That visibility has made many players' cuts famous, from the ponytails of the 1990s to the faux hawks and bleached crops of later decades. Fans copy them, and barbershops in many countries take requests by player name. Some looks became so linked to one player that people still ask for them by name decades later.
There is also a practical side. Soccer has no headgear, so players need hair that stays out of the eyes while running and heading the ball. That is why so many choose either very short cuts or long hair tied back with a band. The styles below cover both ends and the cuts in between. Match-day hair has to survive rain and sweat too.
How Do Famous Player Looks Compare with Match-Ready Cuts?
Signature looks often need more styling or color than most people want to keep up. A bleached crop or shaved design needs regular salon or barber visits, and a man bun takes months to grow. Match-ready cuts are short and need little product, which suits anyone who plays or trains several times a week. The table compares the main types.
How Do Famous Player Looks Compare with Match-Ready Cuts?
Think about how you play and how often you can visit the barber. If you train most days, a buzz cut, textured crop or low fade is easiest; it dries quickly and needs no product. If you like length, choose a style you can tie back, because loose hair across the face is a distraction. Bleached or dyed looks need healthy hair to start with and a colorist for upkeep.
Face shape matters as much as for any cut. Round faces gain from height, such as a faux hawk or quiff. Long faces suit fuller sides and fringes. Square faces carry very short cuts well. Curly and coily hair suits twists, cornrows, a curly top or a short fade, all of which stay neat during a match. Fine hair does best with short, textured cuts that do not rely on height.
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Legendary Footballer Hairstyles
Widely photographed looks from the 1990s and 2000s that fans still ask for. The images are illustrations on generic models; each card describes the cut so a barber can recreate it on your hair.
Trim:Every 8 weeks. Trims keep the tail from thinning.
Best For:Oval, long faces + thick straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
Through the 1990s, the Italian forward wore his dark hair long and tied back in a small ponytail at the nape, often with a short beard. The hair is shoulder length or a bit longer, pulled straight back from the forehead with no fringe. A low ponytail stays in place while running and heading. It suits thick hair; fine hair makes a thin tail.
How to Style at Home
Comb a little styling cream through the hair from root to tip.
Brush everything straight back from the forehead with no part.
Tie it low at the nape with a soft elastic and smooth the top.
Ask Your Barber
"Keep my length for a low ponytail, trim the ends only, and take a little bulk out at the back so the tail sits flat."
Trim:Every 6–8 weeks. Shaping keeps the round outline.
Best For:Oval, square faces + tightly curly or coily hair.
About This Style
The Colombian midfielder of the late 1980s and 1990s is known for a huge, round mass of blond curls and a thick mustache. Recreating it takes long, tightly curly hair, five inches or more, shaped into an even, rounded outline. The color is often a bleached or golden blond, which needs a colorist. Without the color, it is a large curly afro.
How to Style at Home
Saturate the hair with leave-in and detangling spray.
Pick the curls out from the roots with an afro pick.
Pat the outline round with your palms and avoid flattening the top.
Ask Your Barber
"Shape my curls into a large, round afro, about five inches all over. Cut it dry so the outline is even. Trim my mustache full."
Trim:Every 4–6 weeks. Retwist roots to keep the locs neat.
Best For:Oval, long faces + coily or 4C hair grown long.
About This Style
Thick, shoulder-length dreadlocks became the Dutch midfielder's trademark in the late 1980s, and Euro 88 put the look in front of a huge audience. The locs are medium width and hang freely, often with a thin mustache. Recreating it starts with coils or twists that lock over months. Locs this long can be tied back for play with a soft band.
How to Style at Home
Palm-roll the roots with a little loc gel after washing.
Oil the scalp between the locs once or twice a week.
Tie the locs back loosely with a soft band before training.
Ask Your Barber
"Retwist my locs at the roots and keep the length to the shoulders. Clean up the neckline and around the ears with a trimmer."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. Braids and color both need redoing.
Best For:Oval, round faces + coily or 4C hair, short to medium.
About This Style
The Nigerian defender of the 1990s wore short braids gathered into small bunches that stood up off the head, often dyed green or red. It is one of the most playful looks in football history. A braider sections the hair into two to four bunches, braids each and ties them upward. Temporary color or a semi-permanent dye adds the shade without bleach on darker hair.
How to Style at Home
Moisturize the scalp between the bunches with a light oil.
Wrap the braids in a satin scarf at night to keep them neat.
Refresh the color with a temporary hair paint before match day.
Ask Your Barber
"Section my hair into three bunches, braid each one and tie them standing up. Taper the sides with a #1 so the bunches show."
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. Dark roots show quickly on short hair.
Best For:Oval, round faces + short straight hair.
About This Style
At Euro 96, the England midfielder wore his short hair bleached a pale blond, and the look has been copied by English players since. The cut itself is simple: about an inch on top, a #2 or #3 on the sides. The bleach is the work, and dark hair may need two sessions to lift evenly. Short hair is easier to keep healthy while bleached.
How to Style at Home
Use a purple or toning shampoo once a week to cancel brassiness.
Apply leave-in after washing to keep the bleached hair soft.
Push the top forward with a little texture powder.
Ask Your Barber
"Short crop, about an inch on top, #3 on the sides tapering to a #2. I am getting it bleached blond, so keep it even."
Trim:Every 6–8 weeks. The beard needs weekly shaping.
Best For:Oval, long faces + thick straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
In his later playing years, the Italian playmaker paired chin-length dark hair, swept back from the face, with a full, shaped beard. The hair falls behind the ears with no part, and the beard is kept dense and even, about an inch long. It looks relaxed and grown-up. Thick hair holds the swept-back shape; a little cream stops it falling forward.
How to Style at Home
Comb styling cream through damp hair and sweep it back.
Tuck the sides behind the ears and let it dry naturally.
Brush beard oil through the beard and trim the neckline.
Ask Your Barber
"Chin-length layers, swept back with no part. Trim the ends and keep the length. Shape my beard full at about an inch, clean neckline."
Trim:Every 6–8 weeks. Light layers keep it from looking heavy.
Best For:Oval, heart faces + straight medium hair.
About This Style
Early in his career, in the mid-2000s, the Argentine forward wore straight hair grown to around the jaw, falling loosely around the face with a soft fringe. It is a simple, layered cut with no fade and very little product. The fringe is pushed to the side or back during play. Fine to medium straight hair suits it best.
How to Style at Home
Towel dry and let the hair fall naturally around the face.
Push the fringe to one side with your fingers.
Use a light styling cream on the ends to reduce frizz.
Ask Your Barber
"Jaw-length layered cut with no fade and a soft fringe I can push to the side. Use light layers to remove bulk so it falls loosely."
Trim:Every week. Scalp stubble shows within a few days.
Best For:Oval, square faces + thinning or receding hair.
About This Style
When the French striker returned to Arsenal on loan in 2012, he was bald and bearded, a look he has kept in his media work since. The scalp is shaved smooth or taken to a #0 with a foil, and the beard is a short, even full beard of about a quarter inch with a clean neckline. With no hair on top, the beard carries all the shape, so the cheek line and jaw edge matter more.
How to Style at Home
Shave the scalp every two or three days with the grain.
Trim the beard with a #2 guard and clean the neck below the jaw.
Finish with moisturizer on the scalp and oil in the beard.
Ask Your Barber
"Shave the head smooth or a #0 foil finish, then keep my beard at a #2 all over with a soft cheek line and a neckline a finger above the Adam's apple."
Recommended Products
Beard Oil
Scalp Oil
Modern Soccer Star Haircuts
Looks worn by well-known players from the 2000s onward, including bleach, mohawks and buns. Players change their hair often, so treat these as named styles for a barber rather than anyone's current look.
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. Fade and roots both show quickly.
Best For:Round, oval faces + short straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
Before Euro 2020, the English midfielder bleached his short, dark hair blond, and the cut drew wide comparisons to Gascoigne at Euro 96. The cut is a short textured crop with a low fade, about an inch on top. Bleaching short hair is quicker than long, but dark hair still needs careful lifting to avoid orange tones.
How to Style at Home
Use a toning shampoo weekly to keep the blond cool.
Push the top forward with a little texture powder at the roots.
Moisturize the scalp after bleaching with a light oil.
Ask Your Barber
"Short textured crop, about an inch on top, low fade from a #1. I am getting it bleached, so keep the top even."
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. Shaved sides grow in quickly.
Best For:Oval, round faces + coily or short thick hair.
About This Style
The Italian striker was often photographed with a short mohawk: a narrow strip of hair, about an inch high, down the center over shaved or very short sides. It is sometimes bleached at the top. The strip is cut to the width of two fingers and shaped evenly front to back. It is quick to style and stays put during a match.
How to Style at Home
Shape the center strip with a pick or brush.
Apply light pomade to hold the top even.
Moisturize the shaved sides with scalp oil after washing.
Ask Your Barber
"Short mohawk, a strip about two fingers wide and an inch high down the middle. Shave the sides to skin or a #0."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. Shaved sides grow in and blur the crest.
Best For:Oval, long faces + thick straight hair.
About This Style
Through his years at Napoli, the Slovak midfielder wore a tall, spiky mohawk crest that kids in Naples and Slovakia copied. The sides are shaved close, a #0 or #1, and the strip down the middle is three to four inches, spiked straight up with a strong hold product. Thick, straight hair holds the height best. Fine hair will need a stronger product and a narrower strip.
How to Style at Home
Blow-dry the center strip straight up with the nozzle pointing down.
Work matte paste through the strip and pull it into spikes.
Set each spike with a little light gel at the tips.
Ask Your Barber
"Mohawk with the sides shaved to a #0, three to four inches down the center strip, about three fingers wide. Point cut the top so it spikes."
Trim:Every 6–8 weeks. Tidy the sides so the bun looks neat.
Best For:Oval, square faces + straight or wavy medium hair.
About This Style
During his Real Madrid years, the Welsh winger often wore his hair gathered into a small bun near the crown, with the sides and back kept tidier underneath. The hair needs to be about five inches on top to tie. A small, neat bun suits medium-length hair that is not long enough for a full knot. Short beard or stubble usually completes it.
How to Style at Home
Brush the top back and up toward the crown with styling cream.
Twist the gathered hair into a small bun and secure it.
Smooth the sides down with damp palms so the bun looks tidy.
Ask Your Barber
"Keep five inches on top so I can tie a small bun, and tidy the sides and back with a #4 taper. Trim the ends only."
Best For:Long, square faces + thick dark straight hair.
About This Style
The Swedish striker spent many seasons with long dark hair tied into a high knot at the crown, usually with a short beard. The knot sits on top rather than at the nape, which keeps hair off the neck and face. Hair needs to be at least six inches to gather. It suits a long or square face, since the knot adds height.
How to Style at Home
Brush the hair up toward the crown with a little cream.
Twist it into a knot and secure it with an elastic.
Smooth stray hairs at the sides with damp palms.
Ask Your Barber
"Keep my length for a top knot, trim the ends, and tidy the neckline. Trim the beard short and even."
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. Dark roots and the fade both grow in quickly.
Best For:Oval, heart faces + straight or slightly wavy hair.
About This Style
In the summer of 2017 the French forward bleached most of his hair close to white, swapping the blue color he had tried weeks earlier. The cut underneath was a medium top of about three inches pushed back and up, over short, faded sides. Lifting dark hair that far takes more than one bleach session, so plan for a colorist, toner every few weeks and a purple shampoo to keep yellow tones down.
How to Style at Home
Wash with a purple shampoo once a week to stop brassy tones.
Blow-dry the top up and back with a round brush.
Set it with a little matte clay so the bleached ends stay soft.
Ask Your Barber
"Three inches on top pushed back, a low skin fade on the sides, and leave the length so my colorist can lift it to white blond."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. The taper and line-up lose shape fast.
Best For:Oval, round faces + curly or coily hair.
About This Style
At Real Madrid the English midfielder has usually worn a short curly top over a low taper fade. Two to three inches of curls sit forward on top, the taper drops from a #1 to skin around the ears and nape, and the front gets a soft line-up. Keeping the curls defined rather than picked out gives the round, tidy shape seen in most of his match photos.
How to Style at Home
Apply curl cream to wet hair and scrunch the curls forward.
Twist a curl sponge lightly over the top to tighten the coils.
Let it air-dry and avoid touching the curls until fully dry.
Ask Your Barber
"Low taper fade to skin around the ears and nape, two to three inches of curls on top shaped round, and a soft line-up at the front, nothing too sharp."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. The drop fade softens and the top loses lift.
Best For:Oblong, oval faces + thick straight hair.
About This Style
Around the 2014 and 2018 World Cups, the French striker wore a pompadour combed back with a wet, shiny finish. The top carried four to five inches at the front, and the sides dropped behind the ear in a low to medium fade with a light disconnection on one side. A water-based pomade gives the shine and lets you rewet and recomb at half-time without washing it out.
How to Style at Home
Blow-dry the front up and back while still damp.
Work a water-based pomade through and comb straight back.
Rewet the comb to smooth any strands that lift in the afternoon.
Ask Your Barber
"Pompadour with four to five inches at the front, a drop fade from a #1 behind the ear, and a slight disconnect on the side so the top sits back."
Recommended Products
Pomade
Round Brush
Long Soccer Hairstyles
Longer styles that stay out of the eyes during play, tied back, braided or held with a band. They need fewer cuts but more care after training. See man bun for the base cut.
Best For:Oval, heart faces + wavy or straight medium hair.
About This Style
Medium hair, about four to six inches, held back with a thin elastic headband is a common match look for players who do not want to tie it up. The band sits behind the hairline, pushing the hair back, while the ends flow out at the sides and back. Wavy hair looks best. Keep the band thin; wide bands can slip with sweat.
How to Style at Home
Spray sea salt spray into damp hair for texture.
Push the hair back and slide a thin headband over it.
Pull a few pieces loose at the sides for shape.
Ask Your Barber
"Medium flow, four to six inches, layered so it moves. Keep the front long enough to push back with a headband."
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. Redo the braids to keep them neat.
Best For:Oval, long faces + coily or curly long hair.
About This Style
Straight-back cornrows hold hair tight against the scalp, which makes them one of the most practical long styles for play. Six to ten braids running from the forehead to the nape are a common pattern. They last two to four weeks between redos. Keep the scalp moisturized and avoid braiding too tightly, which can stress the hairline.
How to Style at Home
Apply a light scalp oil between the braids every few days.
Wrap the hair in a durag at night to reduce frizz.
Wash gently with diluted shampoo and pat dry.
Ask Your Barber
"Straight-back cornrows, eight braids from front to back, not too tight at the edges. Taper the sides if they are short."
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. Retwist roots and tidy the taper.
Best For:Oval, square faces + coily or 4C hair.
About This Style
Two-strand twists, about three to five inches, over a low taper keep coily hair neat during play and look good off the pitch too. The twists hang loose or can be tied back. Ask the barber to clean up the taper and line-up when you get the twists redone. Moisture after training stops the twists drying out and frizzing.
How to Style at Home
Mist the twists with water and leave-in after training.
Rub a few drops of oil into the scalp between twists.
Tie them back loosely or wear a durag at night.
Ask Your Barber
"Low taper from a #0.5 at the nape, clean line-up, and retwist the top. Keep the twists about four inches."
Trim:Every 8 weeks. Shaping keeps the curls balanced.
Best For:Long, oval faces + curly or loose-curl hair.
About This Style
Curls grown to the chin or shoulders can be worn loose for training or pulled back with a band for matches. Cut dry, curl by curl, the shape stays balanced as it grows. A light curl cream defines the curls without making them heavy with sweat. Pull the front back with a thin band when playing so curls do not fall into the eyes.
How to Style at Home
Apply curl cream to wet curls and scrunch upward.
Let the hair air dry or diffuse on low heat.
Pull the front back with a thin band before playing.
Ask Your Barber
"Cut my curls dry to keep them even, chin to shoulder length. Remove bulk so they stay light, and tidy the neckline."
Trim:Every 6–8 weeks. Ends need tidying to hang well.
Best For:Long, oval faces + wavy or straight long hair.
About This Style
Only the top section is tied into a small bun at the crown, while the rest of the hair hangs to the shoulders. It keeps the front out of the eyes during play but leaves the length visible. Hair should reach at least the chin. Wavy hair gives the hanging section shape, and a soft elastic stops the bun from pulling.
How to Style at Home
Section the hair from temple to temple across the crown.
Twist that top section into a small bun and secure it.
Scrunch a little sea salt spray into the hanging lengths.
Ask Your Barber
"Keep my length to the shoulders, add long layers so the bottom hangs well, and leave the top long enough to tie up."
Trim:Every 8–10 weeks. Only split ends and bulk need taking out.
Best For:Oval, long faces + thick curly or wavy hair.
About This Style
Barcelona's long-serving captain wore shoulder-length, shaggy dark curls through most of his career and famously turned down a coach's request to cut them. There is no fade or taper here: the curls fall from a loose center to the shoulders, with internal thinning so they do not puff out sideways. Dense curly hair works best, since the weight of the length is what keeps the shape down.
How to Style at Home
Wash with a light conditioner and leave some in the lengths.
Scrunch curl cream through damp hair from mid-length to ends.
Shake out at the roots once dry instead of brushing.
Ask Your Barber
"Keep the length at my shoulders, dust the ends and thin out the bulk inside the curls so the sides lie flatter. No clippers anywhere."
Trim:Every 8 weeks. Ends are dusted and the length kept even.
Best For:Oval, heart faces + fine or medium straight hair.
About This Style
For years the Croatian playmaker wore his light, straight hair long and loose, held off his face with a thin elastic headband during matches. The length sits around the chin to jaw, cut with soft layers at the front so it frames the face when the band comes off. Fine straight hair suits this best because it lies flat under a band without bunching at the temples.
How to Style at Home
Towel-dry and comb a small amount of leave-in through the lengths.
Push the hair straight back and slide a thin headband over the top.
Pull a few pieces loose at the temples so the line looks softer.
Ask Your Barber
"Keep it chin length, add light face-framing layers at the front, and take only half an inch off the ends so it still fits under a headband."
Trim:Every 6 weeks. Shaping keeps the round outline even.
Best For:Long, oval faces + coily or tightly curled hair.
About This Style
From his Everton years to his time at Manchester United, the Belgian midfielder was known for a large, round afro that made him easy to pick out in any aerial duel. The hair is grown out several inches all over, picked from the roots and shaped into a sphere with scissors, with the sides kept as full as the top. Regular moisture is what stops a cut this size from breaking at the ends.
How to Style at Home
Spray detangler and work through with fingers from the ends up.
Lift the roots outward with an afro pick once moisturized.
Pat the outline into shape with your palms.
Ask Your Barber
"Shape my afro round with scissors, same height on the sides as on top, take off only the uneven ends and leave the hairline natural."
Recommended Products
Afro Pick
Detangling Spray
Leave-In
Short Match-Ready Soccer Haircuts
Short cuts that need no product and stay out of the eyes. These suit anyone who trains several times a week. See best haircuts for athletes for more sweat-proof options.
Trim:Every 2 weeks. The skin fade shows regrowth quickly.
Best For:Oval, square faces + any hair type.
About This Style
A #2 buzz on top with a skin fade on the sides gives a short, clean cut with a bit of shape. The fade starts low or mid and blends from skin up to the #2. It needs no styling and dries in minutes. Sunscreen on the faded area helps in summer. It suits even head shapes; bumps show on very short sides.
How to Style at Home
Wash the hair after training and towel it dry.
Apply sunscreen to the faded sides before outdoor games.
Rub a little scalp oil into the skin if it feels dry.
Ask Your Barber
"Buzz with a #2 on top and a mid skin fade on the sides, blending from skin up to the #2. Keep the neckline clean and tapered."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. The fringe grows toward the eyes.
Best For:Round, square faces + straight or thick hair.
About This Style
A short, choppy top pushed forward with a short fringe over a low or mid fade is a cut you see in many professional squads. The top is an inch to an inch and a half, point cut for texture. Texture powder gives grip without shine. A fringe that ends well short of the brow will not fall into the eyes when heading.
How to Style at Home
Towel dry and sprinkle texture powder on the roots.
Push the top forward with your fingers so it sits choppy.
Twist a few pieces at the fringe for texture.
Ask Your Barber
"Textured crop with about an inch on top and a mid fade from a #1. Point cut the top and keep the fringe short above my eyebrows."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. The fade softens and the front drops.
Best For:Oval, round faces + straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
A quiff with three inches at the front over a mid fade from a #1 is a popular off-pitch style that still holds up through training. The front is blow-dried up and slightly back and set with matte clay. During a match it can be pushed back without product. It adds height to a round face.
How to Style at Home
Blow-dry the front up with your fingers for lift.
Push matte clay through the top, starting from the roots.
Shape the front up and slightly back with your fingertips.
Ask Your Barber
"Quiff with three inches at the front, getting shorter toward the crown. Mid fade from a #1 up to a #3 on the sides."
Trim:Every 2 weeks. The shaved line fills in quickly.
Best For:Square, oval faces + straight or coarse hair.
About This Style
A short crew cut, about an inch on top, gets a sharp detail with a shaved part line along the side. The sides are a #2 tapering to a #1. The part adds shape in photos and needs no product to show. It grows in within a week, so players who want it for a big match book it a day or two before.
How to Style at Home
Comb the top away from the shaved part.
Apply a small amount of light pomade if you want shine.
Brush the sides down to keep them neat.
Ask Your Barber
"Crew cut, an inch on top, #2 on the sides tapering to a #1. Shave a hard part on my left side."
Trim:Every 4 weeks. Short hair stays tidy for a month.
Best For:Ages 7–14 + straight, wavy or curly hair.
About This Style
For young players, a short textured cut with a soft taper keeps hair out of the eyes and needs no styling. The top is about two inches, the sides a #3 tapering to a #2. It dries quickly after practice and grows out softly between visits. Parents can ask the barber to keep the fringe above the eyebrows.
How to Style at Home
Wash with a gentle kids shampoo after practice.
Towel dry and push the hair forward or to the side.
No styling products are needed on game days.
Ask Your Barber
"Short textured cut for my son, two inches on top, #3 tapering to a #2 on the sides. Keep the fringe above his eyebrows."
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. The line-up and taper need upkeep.
Best For:Oval, round faces + coily or 4C hair.
About This Style
Short waves on top, a #1 or #2, with a low taper at the temples and nape, give a neat, flat shape that stays the same through a match. Waves form with daily brushing and wearing a durag. A sharp line-up at the front makes the cut look finished in photos. It needs no product during play.
How to Style at Home
Brush the waves from the crown outward each morning.
Apply a thin layer of wave pomade before brushing again.
Wear a durag at night to keep the pattern flat.
Ask Your Barber
"Low taper from a #0.5 at the temples and nape, keep a #1 on top for my waves, and a sharp line-up."
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. Shaved lines blur within a week.
Best For:Oval, round faces + coily or short straight hair.
About This Style
Shaved lines or a small pattern cut into the faded sides are a common pre-match request, sometimes in club or national colors. The base is a mid or high skin fade with half an inch to an inch on top. Simple lines, such as two parallel slashes or a curve behind the ear, grow in more cleanly than detailed shapes. Ask for it the day before the game if you want it sharp.
How to Style at Home
Moisturize the design area with a light scalp oil after washing.
Avoid scrubbing the shaved lines hard so the edges stay crisp.
Brush the short top gently to keep it even.
Ask Your Barber
"Mid skin fade, half an inch on top. Shave two curved lines on the left side behind the ear, simple enough to grow in clean."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. Fade blurs before the curls lose shape.
Best For:Oval, long faces + curly or wavy hair.
About This Style
Two inches of curls sit on top of a low or mid fade, a common cut among young players with curly hair. The curls press down slightly in a match but spring back after a rinse. Short sides keep the head cool. Ask the barber to cut the curls dry so they sit evenly, and keep the front off the brow.
How to Style at Home
Apply curl cream to soaking wet curls and scrunch them upward.
Let the curls air dry and avoid touching them while they set.
Refresh after training with a mist of water and a little leave-in.
Ask Your Barber
"Low fade from a #0.5 to a #2, two inches of curls on top cut dry. Keep the front curls off my eyebrows."
Recommended Products
Curl Cream
Leave-In
Retro Footballer Hairstyles from the 1970s to 2000s
These six looks belong to tournaments and eras fans still talk about, from bubble perms to Euro 2000 bleach. Most translate well to a modern barber chair, and the modern mullet and perm guides cover two of them in depth.
Trim:Every 6–8 weeks. The perm loosens as the roots grow out.
Best For:Oval, long faces + straight or fine hair.
About This Style
During the mid-1970s, the Liverpool and England forward popularised the bubble perm, a short-to-medium cut set into tight, springy curls all over. Plenty of players copied it before the decade was out. Modern versions use larger rods for a softer curl and keep the sides a little shorter. The perm itself lasts around three months; after that, a root perm or a trim keeps the shape from turning flat at the crown.
How to Style at Home
Avoid washing for two days after the perm so the curl sets.
Scrunch curl cream in while damp and let it air-dry.
Refresh second-day curls with a light mist of water.
Ask Your Barber
"Leave two to three inches all over, shorter at the sideburns and nape, so a stylist can set a tight perm. Point-cut the ends so the curls stack evenly."
Trim:Every 5–6 weeks. The front and sides need cutting back.
Best For:Oval, square faces + thick straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
England's winger at Italia 90 wore one of the most photographed mullets in the game: a thick, full top and short sides with a long back falling past the collar. Unlike a modern mullet, there is no fade; the sides are scissor-cut short over the ears and the top is fluffed for height. Thick hair gives the volume, while thin hair tends to look stringy at the back.
How to Style at Home
Blow-dry the top upward with a round brush for height.
Leave the back to dry naturally so it falls straight.
Mist with sea salt spray for a slightly rough 1990 finish.
Ask Your Barber
"Scissor-cut the sides short over the ears, keep three inches on top with volume, and leave the back long past my collar. No fade."
Trim:Every 8–10 weeks. Ends and goatee get a tidy only.
Best For:Long, oval faces + thick wavy or straight hair.
About This Style
At the 1994 World Cup, held in the United States, the American defender played with red hair down to his shoulders and a long red goatee. The hair was worn loose and center-parted, with little layering, and the goatee grew several inches below the chin. To copy it, you mostly need patience; the barber's role is keeping the goatee's sides clean and the ends of the hair healthy.
How to Style at Home
Comb argan oil through the ends of the hair after washing.
Brush the goatee downward and trim stray hairs with scissors.
Shave the cheeks every few days so the goatee stays separate.
Ask Your Barber
"Leave my hair at the shoulders, just trim split ends, and shape the goatee to a long point with the cheeks and jaw sides shaved clean."
Trim:Every 3 weeks. Dark regrowth shows at roots and beard.
Best For:Oval, square faces + coily or tightly curled hair.
About This Style
Portugal's right-back at Euro 2000 bleached both his short hair and his beard to platinum blond, a rare pairing that made him one of the tournament's most remembered faces. The hair is a short, even cut close to the head, and the beard is a full shape kept at about a quarter inch. Bleaching beard hair needs a gentler developer than the scalp and a patch test first.
How to Style at Home
Use a toning shampoo weekly on hair and beard.
Moisturise the beard daily, since bleach dries the hair.
Keep the beard outline tidy with a #2 guard.
Ask Your Barber
"Short all over, about a #3, and a full beard at a #2 with clean lines. I am bleaching both platinum, so keep the shape tight and even."
Trim:Every 4–6 weeks. Retwisting roots keeps the locs neat.
Best For:Oval, long faces + coily hair that can loc.
About This Style
Long dreadlocks defined the Dutch midfielder's image from his Ajax days onward, usually tied back behind the head, and from 1999 he added protective goggles after eye surgery. His locs ran past the shoulders with medium thickness and were gathered so they stayed out of his face in tackles. Copying it takes years of growth, so start with starter locs and retwist the roots regularly.
How to Style at Home
Retwist new growth at the roots with a small amount of loc gel.
Gather the locs at the back of the head with a soft band.
Oil the scalp between the sections twice a week.
Ask Your Barber
"Retwist my roots, tidy the hairline and nape with a light taper, and leave the full length of the locs so I can tie them back."
Trim:Every 1–2 weeks. Shaved patterns blur within days.
Best For:Round, oval faces + short coily or straight hair.
About This Style
Few players changed their look as often as the French striker, and one of his best known versions was a short, dyed blond buzz with tribal-style patterns cut into it. A #1 or #2 buzz is bleached evenly, then the barber shaves curved lines to skin with a trimmer. Because the design sits in very short hair, it fades within a week, so weekly touch-ups are part of the cut.
How to Style at Home
Rub scalp oil over the design after washing to calm the skin.
Wear sunscreen or a hat, since bleached, short hair exposes the scalp.
Book the next line touch-up before the pattern softens.
Ask Your Barber
"A #2 buzz all over, then carve a curved tribal pattern down both sides with a trimmer. I am dyeing it blond, so keep the lines clean."
Recommended Products
Scalp Oil
More Short and Low-Fuss Soccer Haircuts
These six cuts come from academy dressing rooms and Sunday leagues rather than one famous player. Each keeps hair off the face for heading and dries fast after a shower; for more braid options see braids for men.
Trim:Every 4–6 weeks. Braids are redone as new growth loosens them.
Best For:Oval, long faces + coily hair of three inches or more.
About This Style
Square-parted box braids hang to the jaw or shoulders and can be tied up into a bun for kick-off. Players like them because they stay in place through sweat and heading, and the braids protect the hair between washes. Most players pair them with a short taper at the nape. Keep the parts fairly large so the braids are not too heavy and do not pull at the hairline.
How to Style at Home
Spray a diluted leave-in along the braids after training.
Oil the parted scalp twice a week with a light oil.
Tie the braids loosely, not tightly, before a match.
Ask Your Barber
"Low taper at the nape and around the ears from a #1, line up the front softly, and leave the length for medium box braids."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. The burst around the ear needs refreshing.
Best For:Oval, round faces + coily 4A to 4C hair.
About This Style
Short coily hair of one to two inches is rubbed with a curl sponge into small twists, and a burst fade arcs around each ear while the back stays fuller. It is quick to style after a shower and does not shift during a game. Unlike two-strand twists, sponge twists need no sectioning and can be redone in a minute, which is why many young players choose them.
How to Style at Home
Apply a light curl cream to damp hair.
Rub a curl sponge in small circles until twists form.
Pat the outline into a rounded shape.
Ask Your Barber
"Burst fade around both ears starting from skin, keep the back fuller, and leave one and a half inches on top for sponge twists."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. Skin at the sides grows back within days.
Best For:Oval, square faces + straight or wavy hair.
About This Style
This is the go-to cut in many professional squads: a blunt French crop fringe over a mid skin fade. The top runs about an inch and a half, brushed forward, with a straight fringe line sitting high on the forehead. With almost nothing to style, it dries in minutes after training. The skin fade does need cleaning every two to three weeks to keep the contrast sharp.
How to Style at Home
Towel-dry and brush the top forward.
Rub a pea-sized amount of matte paste through the fringe.
Separate a few pieces with fingertips for texture.
Ask Your Barber
"Mid skin fade, an inch and a half on top, brush it forward and cut a straight fringe about an inch above my eyebrows."
Trim:Every 2–3 weeks. Buzz and beard are clipped on the same day.
Best For:Square, oval faces + any hair type or receding hairline.
About This Style
Senior players, especially those with a receding hairline, often pair a #2 or #3 buzz all over with a short full beard. The buzz needs nothing after washing, and the beard adds shape to the jaw. Keeping the beard a touch longer than the head makes the two read as a matching set, and a faded sideburn joins them without a line.
How to Style at Home
Clip the head and beard on the same day to keep them even.
Brush beard oil through after showering.
Edge the neckline weekly with a trimmer.
Ask Your Barber
"Buzz the head with a #2, fade the sideburns into my beard, and keep the beard at a #3 with a clean neckline."
Trim:Every 4 weeks. Undercut sides start to push the top out.
Best For:Round, oval faces + thick straight Asian hair.
About This Style
Popular with players from Korea and Japan, the two block clips the sides and back to a #2 or #3 with no blending, and keeps three to four inches on top that drop over the short area. On the pitch the top is worn as a soft fringe or a light middle part. Thick straight hair suits it best, since the weight of the top hides the undercut line.
How to Style at Home
Blow-dry the top down and slightly forward.
Rub a little light pomade through the ends.
Push the fringe to one side or split it in the middle.
Ask Your Barber
"Two block cut, sides and back at a #2 with no fade, and three to four inches on top falling over the line. Keep the fringe at eyebrow length."
Trim:Every 3–4 weeks. The part and taper lose definition.
Best For:Oval, oblong faces + straight or fine hair.
About This Style
Many England and Germany internationals wear this neat, short side part: two to three inches on top, combed to one side, over a scissor-blended taper at the sideburns and nape. It is the cut players wear to press conferences as well as matches. A light, matte product keeps the part in place through rain without looking wet.
How to Style at Home
Comb the hair to the side while still damp.
Apply a little matte cream through the top.
Use a fine comb to set the part line.
Ask Your Barber
"Side part on my natural parting, two to three inches on top, scissors over comb on the sides, and a short taper at the sideburns and neck."
Recommended Products
Matte Cream
How Do You Ask Your Barber for a Player's Haircut?
Bring a clear photo from the front and side, ideally from a match or press event rather than a styled shoot, since that shows how the hair looks day to day. Barbers recognize many famous looks by name, but describe the cut too: the guard on the sides, the length on top and any color or design. A player's hair may be thicker or a different texture from yours, so ask the barber how it will look on your hair.
For color, book a colorist rather than a barber unless your barber offers it. Bleaching dark hair to blond often takes more than one session. Our guide on bleached haircuts covers what to expect and how to care for it. Plan the cut a few days before the color appointment so the colorist works on the final shape, and expect a toner refresh every few weeks to keep the shade even.
Clipper Guards Used in Soccer Player Haircut Styles
A clipper guard is the plastic comb that clips onto the blade and sets how much hair is left: a #1 leaves 3 mm (1/8 inch), each step up adds about 3 mm. The right column lists the cards on this page that call for each guard. See the full clipper guard numbers guide for the complete chart.
Clipper guard sizes for soccer player haircut styles
How Do You Keep Your Hair in Place During a Match?
Tie long hair back
Use a soft elastic or a thin headband, and check your league rules; some ban hard clips or jewelry-like accessories.
Skip heavy product
Sweat mixes with pomade and runs into the eyes. A light texture spray or nothing at all works better on match day.
Keep the fringe short
A fringe that reaches the eyebrows will fall into your eyes when you head the ball. Push it back or trim it.
Wash after playing
Sweat and dirt build up on the scalp. Wash after each game and use a light conditioner on longer hair.
What Mistakes Should You Avoid?
Copying a famous look without checking your hair type is the most common mistake. A faux hawk that stands up on a player with thick, straight hair may flop on fine hair, and a bleached crop on dark hair that is already dry can break. Ask the barber to adapt the look. Another mistake is cutting a style right before a big game; a fresh skin fade or design can look harsh for a day or two. Book big changes in the off-season.
Finally, remember that many famous looks were short-lived. Players change their hair often, sometimes from one season to the next. Pick a cut that suits your daily life, and treat the signature looks as a starting point for a conversation with your barber. A good barber can usually suggest a version that keeps the spirit of the look and fits your hair.
Which Soccer Player Haircut Is Right for You?
Pick your hair type and how much upkeep you will put in. The matches below come from the Best For and Maintenance notes on each card. Upkeep follows the Maintenance badge: low means a cut every 3 to 6 weeks and almost no daily styling, high means weekly line-ups or daily product.
Short cuts are the most common: textured crops, low and mid fades, buzz cuts and crew cuts. They dry quickly and stay out of the eyes. Longer styles like man buns and ponytails are less common but well known because the players who wear them are photographed so often.
Q2: Why do soccer players wear headbands?+
Headbands keep longer hair and sweat out of the eyes during play. Thin elastic bands are common because they hold the hair back without slipping. Some leagues have rules on what players can wear on their heads, so check before using one in a match.
Q3: What was the haircut Ronaldo Nazario had at a World Cup?+
At the 2002 World Cup, the Brazilian striker shaved most of his head and left a small patch of hair at the front. It became one of the most talked-about haircuts in football. He later explained that it was meant to draw attention away from an injury.
Q4: Can you play soccer with long hair?+
Yes. Many players do, usually with the hair tied back in a ponytail, bun or with a headband. Keep the ends trimmed and use a soft elastic so it does not pull. Heading the ball is easier when the hair is tied back away from the face.
Q5: How do I get a footballer's faux hawk?+
Ask for short sides, around a #2 or a low fade, and two to three inches down the center of the top. Blow-dry the top upward while pinching it toward the middle, then use matte clay to shape it into a soft ridge. Thick, straight hair holds the shape best.
Q6: What is a good haircut for a youth soccer player?+
A short crew cut, textured crop or soft taper is easiest. It stays out of the eyes, dries quickly and needs no styling. If your child wants longer hair, keep the fringe short and use a soft headband or elastic during games.
