It is not often that a single haircut makes global headlines, but Erling Haaland’s decision to shave off his flowing locks – and document the process on social media – has drawn reactions from around the world.
The Manchester City and Norway striker, 26, traded his long ponytail for a buzz cut, sharing the transformation in an Instagram carousel captioned: “Short hair don’t care.” The post currently has 12 million likes.
The reaction went beyond fans. British and Real Madrid footballer Jude Bellingham simply commented: “No way.” Haaland also FaceTimed friends during the cut, including Oasis singer Noel Gallagher, who responded: “No way mate! When’d you get that done?”
On another call, former Swedish footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic joked that he no longer recognised Haaland. “You lost a bet, or what? Block me and erase my number.”
Haaland’s former Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, had perhaps the most envious response. Stroking his own bald head, he said: “No way! You are lucky to have hair, I would love to have hair.”
The attention should come as little surprise. Recently, almost everything Haaland does has sent the internet into a frenzy. Already a superstar among football fans, this summer’s World Cup in America catapulted him to another level of fame, thanks not only to his performances on the pitch but his imposing stature, long blond hair, wildly valuable bag collection and seemingly endless ability to become central to a meme. By the end of the tournament, Haaland had become a global celebrity far beyond football.
Part of his appeal is that, as someone conversant in the vernacular of the online social age, Haaland seems entirely at ease on camera and instinctively understands how to manage his online presence. He is happy to be goofy, self-deprecating and, crucially, in on the joke.
It helps, of course, that he is also one of the world’s most acclaimed footballers. Were he not performing on the pitch, it is fairly safe to say there would be less tolerance for all the off-pitch fun.
But his willingness to appear unfiltered also matters. At a time when celebrities can have every public move co-ordinated by teams of publicists, lawyers, managers, stylists and social media experts, Haaland comes across as joyful, spontaneous and remarkably unguarded. His belly laugh while being insulted by Ibrahimovic, for example, revealed an appealingly unpretentious side.
Haaland’s new haircut – like most fresh cuts – will take a bit of getting used to but it has somehow already taken on the heft of a cultural hairstyle moment.
