Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar, Haaland: Top 10 worst football fashion disasters - in pictures

A look at star players' most embarrassing wardrobe howlers

TOP 10 WORST FOOTBALL FASHION DISASTERS: No 10 - bookable offence: Cristiano Ronaldo sports a kaleidoscopic sweater as he is greeted by Sir Alex Ferguson after signing for Manchester United in 2003. Getty

No 9 - match of the day: David and Victoria Beckham go for twin all-leather combos in London in 1999. Alamy

No 8 - shining star: Lionel Messi at the Fifa Ballon d'Or Gala in Zurich, Switzerland, in 2014. Reuters

No 7 - white state: Liverpool's Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and Jamie Redknapp in their infamous white suits at Wembley before the FA Cup Final against Manchester United in 1996. Getty

No 6 - kit mix-up: Real Betis and Spain defender Hector Bellerin at London Fashion Week in 2019. Getty

No 5 - sold short: Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil star Neymar at the launch of his new Diesel perfume fragrance in Paris in 2019. Reuters

No 4 - trouble and stripe: Erling Haaland has joined Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in a £51 million ($63m) move but this lurid get-up would be more suited to the club's crosstown rivals United Photo: @erlinh.haaland / Instagram

No 3 - caught napping: Everton midfielder Tom Davies's 'dressing gown' at New York Fashion Week in 2020. Getty

No 2 - deliberate fowl: Former Inter Milan, Manchester City, and AC Milan forward Mario Balotelli in his infamous 'chicken' hat in December 2010.

No 1 - dodgy boot deal: Leeds and England midfielder Kalvin Philips greets a fan in his 'Quaver' boots. Twitter

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are two of the classiest players to have graced a football pitch. Between them, they’ve collected 12 Ballon d’Ors.

But genius doesn’t guarantee success when it comes to kitting themselves out.

The “Golden Shoe” is often on the other foot when dress sense is the name of the game. Here we tackle 10 of football’s worst fashion own goals.

No 10 - Cristiano Ronaldo

He may be the greatest goalscorer of all time but Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus legend Cristiano Ronaldo was guilty of a glaring miss with a multi-coloured mess of a sweater when he first signed for United in 2003.

No 9 - David Beckham

There was no skirting around the media storm when the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star stepped out in a sarong during England’s 1998 World Cup campaign. But a matching double-leather combo in 1999 was a real stinker from Becks and wife Victoria.

No 8 - Lionel Messi

The Argentine's career is full of football’s glittering prizes. But while his dazzling skills have lit up the world’s pitches, the shiny red suit he wore to the 2014 Ballon d’Or award ceremony had us reaching for the shades.

Liverpool's players in their infamous white suits on the pitch at Wembley before the 1996 FA Cup final against Manchester United. Getty

No 7 - Liverpool

Ah, yes, the original and some would say still the best football fashion foul – Liverpool’s white suits at the 1996 FA Cup final were a real loser. Needless to say, they went on to be beaten by Manchester United. A timeless classic.

No 6 - Hector Bellerin

Arsenal’s Spanish right-back, who spent last season on loan at Real Betis, got into a bit of a tactical mess with a get-up of bucket hat, fur-collared mac and pin-striped strides at London Fashion Week in 2019.

No 5 - Neymar

The Paris Saint-Germain star is the golden boy of Brazilian football. But the outlandish rig of silk jacket, baggy shorts and dodgy hat donned by football’s €222 million ($248.1m) record transfer was a world-class howler.

No 4 - Erling Haaland

Manchester City's £51 million ($63m) signing from Bayern Munich donned a garish suit that looked uncannily like it was in the red, white and black colours of his new club's bitter crosstown rivals United. Is there something you're not telling us, Erling?

No 3 - Tom Davies

Difficult to guess what was going through the Everton midfielder’s mind when he woke up in the morning and thought that a dressing-gown, cravat and pointy purple shoe ensemble was a knock-out for New York Fashion Week in 2020.

Mario Balotelli sports his 'chicken' hat in 2010.

No 2 - Mario Balotelli

Why always him? The Italian has bagged a few hat-tricks in his time but the former Inter Milan, Manchester City and AC Milan star outdid himself with this hilarious headgear. His “chicken” hat from 2010 certainly ruffled a few feathers.

No 1 - Kalvin Phillips

The Leeds United and England midfielder is one of the most sought-after players in the Premier League and beyond but his "Quaver" boots were more likely to leave a bad taste in the mouth than to have fans hungry for more.