Lionel Messi hair then and now: A timeline of Argentina star's transformation since 2006 World Cup

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While more and more viewers of the 2026 World Cup have seen Lionel Messi celebrating on their screens after scoring yet another goal, many may be unfamiliar with the hair career the forward has had.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star has a rather tame cut compared to what he used to. Fans used to be able to spot Messi from a mile away when he had striking platinum blonde hair.

Now, the 2022 World Cup winner has toned down the theatrics and just plays stellar soccer, regardless of what is on top of his head.

Here's a look back at all of the Argentine's hairdos during his soccer career.

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Lionel Messi hair then and now

Messi has sported a plethora of looks throughout his long career. From buzz cuts to blonde streaks to long hair, the Argentinian star has been seen donning it all.

Here is the compilation of haircuts he's had through 2025:

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Long hair

When Messi first introduced himself to the world at Barcelona, the "Little Boy From Rosario" came onto the pitch donning long hair that extended past the top of his ears. Soon after, fans would see a trail of long hair fluttering in the wind whenever the dribbling extraordinaire weaved in between and outside of defenders.

Messi largely wore his hair long from his Barcelona debut in 2004 to August 2011, according to Bleacher Report. Here's a look at the best of long-haired Messi on the pitch.

Short hair

In August 2011, Messi had his locks shortened and featured more of a buzzcut look. The 2011-12 season was one of the best of his career. He finished with a record 91 goals in the calendar year of 2012. This historic tally included 79 goals for FC Barcelona (59 in La Liga, 13 in the Champions League, 5 in the Copa del Rey, and 2 in the Spanish Super Cup) and 12 for the Argentina national team.

Regardless, the short hair was there to stay for a while.

Blonde hair

Messi's most shocking haircut came at one of his career's lowest points. After he had heavily considered retiring from Argentina's national team after missing a penalty kick against Chile in the 2016 Copa America final.

"I introduced this change to start from zero," Messi said, per ESPN. "There had been a lot of issues that had taken place and I told myself I need to break away from this and start over."

Lionel Messi's hair now

After the blonde hair, Messi finally settled back to his trademark short hair. The Argentine has stayed loyal to this look after gaining his confidence back from the low point for his national team. Fans all around the world saw a short-haired Messi lift up the 2022 World Cup trophy in Qatar, and he is back to leading Argentina through the 2026 tournament.

Lionel Messi's first World Cup

Messi's first time playing at the World Cup came at the 2006 tournament in Germany. In the 74th minute, the "Little Boy From Rosario" ran onto the pitch as a substitute for Maxi Rodriguez. Around 14 minutes later, the substitute notched his first World Cup goal for Argentina and began his tournament tenure with a good foot forward.

Here's a look at Messi's highlights from Argentina's massive 6-0 win over Serbia and Montenegro:

How old is Lionel Messi?

Messi just turned 39 years old during the 2026 World Cup. The "Little Boy From Rosario" was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina.

He first played in a match for Barcelona on October 16, 2004, against local rivals Espanyol.

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