When you think of terrible footballer haircuts, there’s a good chance your mind will flash back to Ronaldo Nazario - or ‘Brazilian Ronaldo’ - at the 2002 World Cup.
The legendary striker was the star of the tournament in Japan and South Korea but, let’s be honest, his infamous barnet was a shambles.
El Fenomeno left a bizarre triangular patch at the front of his shaved head and it’s certainly a contender for the worst World Cup haircut of all time.
Speaking in 2017, Ronaldo revealed the reason behind the haircut, telling reporters: “My groin was hurting. I was only at 60%.
“Everybody was only talking about my injury. When I arrived in training with this haircut everybody stopped talking about the injury.”
Pretty clever, really.
SAITAMA-KEN - JUNE 26: Ronaldo of Brazil celebrates scoring the winning goal during the FIFA World Cup Finals 2002 Semi-Final match between Brazil and Turkey played at the Saitama Stadium, in Saitama-Ken, Japan on June 26, 2002. Brazil won the match 1-0. DIGITAL IMAGE. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)
Despite not being fully fit, Ronaldo went on to score eight goals as Brazil became world champions for the fifth time, further cementing his status as one of the greatest players of all time.
However, nobody was walking into their barbers the day after the World Cup final asking for a ‘Ronaldo’.
Dad gives son Brazilian Ronaldo haircut
Almost 20 years later, one poor lad went viral on social media after asking his dad for a Ronaldo haircut during lockdown.
The boy wanted one of Cristiano Ronaldo’s stylish haircuts; however, there was “only one Ronaldo” in his mischievous father’s mind.
MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 20: Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus looks dejected during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Juventus at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on February 20, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
The little lad looked in horror as he looked in the bathroom mirror, only to realise he now looked like ‘R9’ from the 2002 World Cup.
He called his dad a “d***head” which, to be fair, was probably deserved on this occasion.
Video: Boy asks for Cristiano Ronaldo haircut, gets R9's instead
Watch the video here:
That was surely the last time the youngster asked his old man to cut his hair.
Ronaldo apologies for 2002 World Cup haircut
In 2021, Ronaldo issued a formal apology to mothers of any children who copied his 2002 hairstyle.
“I saw my teammates and asked, ‘Do you like it?'” he was quoted as telling Ole.
“They said, ‘No, it’s horrible! Cut this off!’ But the journalists saw my haircut and forgot about the injury.
“I apologise to all mothers who saw their kids make the same haircut.”
SAITAMA-KEN - JUNE 26: Ronaldo of Brazil celebrates scoring the winning goal during the FIFA World Cup Finals 2002 Semi-Final match between Brazil and Turkey played at the Saitama Stadium, in Saitama-Ken, Japan on June 26, 2002. Brazil won the match 1-0. DIGITAL IMAGE. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Ronaldo went on to become the highest scorer in World Cup finals history during the 2006 World Cup, netting his 15th goal.
However, his record was broken by Germany’s Miroslav Klose in Brazil eight years later.
Despite that, Ronaldo remains the greatest striker of all time in the eyes of many football fans around the world.
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