Messi Haircut

Messi Haircuts: The Icon’s Best Haircuts That Stole The Show

Walking the talk is big in sports entertainment, particularly football. While legends like Pele, Eusebio, and Maradona have all gone above and beyond to prove their worth to their team and fans, not many have achieved what the current frontrunner in the sport, Lionel Messi, has done over the course of a decade and a half. Alongside his impressive feats on the pitch is his haircut, which too changed remarkably over the years.

Lionel Messi was always focused on improving as a player above everything else, making very little room for his sense of style. For that reason alone, the 36-year-old Inter Miami forward didn’t have what many refer to as a glow-up until recent times. When he did though, it took the world by storm.

Messi’s game has already received every flower known to mankind. His hair evolution, on the other hand, received very little screen time. That changes today, however, as we will make it a priority to unveil all the hairstyles of Lionel Messi throughout this guide!

Most Iconic Hairstyles of Lionel Messi That Inspired Millions

While the clinical finisher preferred rocking outgrown hairstyles during his formative years, he soon moved over to shorter options, which not only allowed him to improve his game, but also earned him a spot in the room full of trendsetters amongst athletes.

From textured hairdos to mullets, here are all the hairstyles in Lionel Messi’s lookbook!

Short Textured Caesar with Angular Quiff

Short Textured Caesar with Angular Quiff

More often than not, wearing long hairstyles tends to be a double-edged sword for footballers, as the hair care routine is hardly ever favorable due to the amount of shampooing that is required. Lionel Messi not only understood that take early on, but also made smart styling decisions to control the outcome.

For the longest time, Messi wore this short textured caesar, morphed into an angular quiff. The hairdo not only made him more lightweight on the pitch, but currently qualifies as a wash and wear haircut, a look often known for being time-friendly.

Cropped Faux Hawk with Mid-skin Fade

Cropped Faux Hawk with Mid-skin Fade

For a solid disconnection, Messi also resorted to a cropped faux hawk, which gave his hair and beard a high contrast look to work with, and enabled him to lead Argentina to winning their first FIFA World Cup since 1986 in December, 2022.

Whether you’re seeking a hairdo for summer or simply hoping to get a look to honor the face of football, this cropped faux hawk can be the perfect hairstyle to experiment with. Pair it with a mid-skin fade if you’ve got a stubble to boast about.

Outgrown Mullet with Gleaming Side-part

Outgrown Mullet with Gleaming Side-part

Even the greatest footballer of all time has bad hair days, and Lionel Messi is no exception.

After finding contentment in a fade haircut, Messi switched up his look with a mullet, morphed into a side-part with framing tresses.

The visuals were sealed using hair wax, which also provided the outlook with tons of gloss. The sides were also tapered, just to get rid of the bulk and give the strands on top more volume.

This mullet is great if you’re seeking an option amidst the awkward phase, proving to be just as effective for those with fine to coarse hair.

Feathery Textured Cut with Low Taper Fade

Feathery Textured Cut with Low Taper Fade

Once ‘La Pulga’ shortened his hair, he typically preferred designs with loads of texture and natural hold. For the hair density he possessed at the time, it was only fair for Messi to wear a textured cut with a feathery faux hawk, which he showcased pretty elegantly.

The natural appearance of this hold is perhaps the best aspect about this look. The subtle taper fade around the side burns not only added to the density of the hair, but also created a precise disconnection for his beard to work with.

Bleached Angular Comb Over with 3 On The Side

Bleached Angular Comb Over with 3 On The Side

Shortly after losing out to Chile, Messi retired from International football, which was short-lived. When he reversed his decision after a week, however, Messi didn’t just come back with a fresh mind, but also a bleached comb over, which caught fans off guard.

The volume of this look is surely the highlight of the show, alongside the healthy visuals, which is something that using bleach typically does. The angles of the comb over received a subtle disconnection due to the 3 on the sides cut, a timeless piece we’ve covered previously!

Medium-length Bro Flow with Middle-part

Medium-length Bro Flow with Middle-part

A look that seems to match how polished Lionel Messi is as a forward and facilitator is this bro-flow, which he often used to pair with a middle-part. The strands are quite healthy, comprising no frizz, while the curtains are quite light, despite staying in place.

This hairdo can be a top-notch solution for many trying to grow their hair. The structure might need a detangling comb to form, needing a sealing agent such as hair mousse or wax if the cuticles need ample amounts of stability and mobility. If you’d like some texture, consider transforming this look into a wolf cut!

Shoulder-length Shag with Fringe

Shoulder-length Shag with Fringe

When Messi stood out in the right wing with his blistering pace and unprecedented dribbling in front of almost a hundred thousand people at Camp Nou, it seemed as though he was painting his canvas for the future.

Another aspect that was just as marvelous, but may have gone unnoticed in that moment due to his effort on the field was this shoulder-length shag, comrpising a wispy fringe that covered his forehead.

This look is perfect for those searching for a way to beat the awkward phase. The shag hairstyle can also be a great companion during lazy days, and when running out of time before heading out to a social gathering.

The Middle Part Mullet

The Middle Part Mullet

This is the time period we all came to love and adore Messi. With his crazy hairstyle accompanied with even crazier plays on the pitch, it was a combo that was tough to beat.

I am pretty sure we all remember the world cup season where he first showed his prowess as a dribbler and a player just because of the hairstyle and the plays he made back then.

Although it’s a great look for him, anybody else doing this would just be in poor taste since we grew so much from the middle part mullet hairstyle.. We’re gonna let that hairstyle rest in peace in 2007.

The Messi Mullet

The Messi Mullet

Although we had seen Messi in the recent years with the much tamer quiff with tapered sides, his iconic Messy mullet is one that is hard to forget. You could see by the way he kept his hair how carefree and chaotic his playstyle was.

Nevertheless, Leo being himself pulled it all off seamlessly and without a hitch in his performance. This man truly knew what he was doing with the way he looked and played during his prime years.

All you have to do to get this look is let your hair be untamed and let it grow. It is super low maintenance and if you have the patience to let your hair dry slower than usual this is not all that bad of a hairstyle to have.

You could steal his look by simply waking up in the morning and not combing your hair. However, I would not suggest following in his footsteps if you’re more of a professional person with a stable job and life.

Silky Wavy Hair With Mullet

Silky Wavy Hair with Mullet

It seems as though there was a pattern for Messi’s haircut in the early days of his career. He had a pretty tight bond between the way he styled his hair and himself. He always leaned more towards the long hair paired with the mullet at the back.

This however, is not all that bad and is a more presentable version of the messy uncombed front. There is not much of a difference between the previous three hairstyles and are just variations of the same hair in the front.

Achieving this look is pretty straightforward if you have straight hair. All you have to do for this one is not go to the barber and let your hair grow out for a few months. Not a bad look for anybody who prefers and can pull off long hair. It’s a very natural look and all you will ever need is a comb to not have your hair all frizzy and ensure it’s always moisturised with some products.

Furthermore, it was obvious that despite the same haircut but different hairstyles. Leo sure cared about the way his hair looked to the public. As we can all relate, our hair is possibly one of the biggest things that we put effort into alongside others while presenting ourselves.

Sidebrush with Mullet

Side Brush with Mullet

This is not that different yet again from the previous haircut showcased but it definitely holds a different charm. The hair is less dense at the front and seems a little thinner. However, this haircut was possibly the last time he kept his hair long as we haven’t seen him with long hair since.

It definitely is a cleaner and more thought out look as he seems well-groomed. You could still see the fervour in his appearance while keeping a calm demeanour as he aged throughout the years of his career.

If you wish to steal this look and show off your wild side, do it. Put your own spin on it since mullets are hard to pull off. To pull this off, you will need even hair all over your head. Brush the front to the side and grow out your mullet if you want that to show off.

Taper With Fringe

Taper with Fringe

This is a great spin on his previous haircut, you can see him coming around to embracing his cleaner side despite his “Messi” appearance. This era he has ditched his mullet that he oh so loved for so long.

This is a simple haircut to do as it does not have much of the complicated tapers and all that jazz. It’s basically the same even hair all over the head except for the sides where it is naturally slightly shorter. It’s not too short that it will stick out, rather just long enough that it will fall downwards as the hair gets longer.

It’s safe to say that he definitely enjoyed this new personality of hair as we haven’t seen him rock a mullet in a hot minute. It’s one style where he embraced how he has been ageing and we can start to see a small stubble as he decides to grow out his beard as well.

You should definitely copy this look if you’re looking for a hairstyle and want to take inspiration from your idol as it’s easy to pull off and one of the safest haircuts to have for any occasion.

The Comb Over

The Almost Comb Over

Here we can see Messi embrace his age as he seems to have a more aged look with his beard and haircut. His hair is not long at all and is seemingly more contained. The front of his hair is longer than his top to give this comb over look.

It’s a great haircut to have and is super common among men who do not want to put too much effort into styling their hair all too much. To get this, all you have to do is take the front of your hair to the side and back a little bit and voila, you’re set for the rest of the day.

This haircut is done with a bit more hair left in the front, not too much off the top and as for the sides, you will need to give them a taper, the taper is optional if you don’t want a beard or do not prefer it. It’s a super popular haircut for men to have across all age demographics.

Overall a great haircut to have if you want to rock it, with a beard. Especially because of the slightly tapered sides where your beard can seamlessly blend in with the top of your hair. I must say this has got to be one of the best haircuts to have if you want a beard to go with your haircut.

Classic Messi Crew Cut

Classic Messi Crew Cut

This has to be one of the most iconic pictures taken of football rivals to date. There’s a lot going on, however, and one thing that catches everybody’s eyes are the style that each of the two players have.

You have Christiano Ronaldo on one side with his flagship haircut and you see Messi on the other. Messi has an almost buzzed haircut whereas Cristiano has his signature faded cut with a line on the seam on the side of his head.

This haircut can be achieved when you do a buzz cut and you let your hair grow out a little bit. And as you can see this is the first stage of your hair growing after a buzz. As for the beard, it seems well trimmed with a little fade at the top to have it connect a little seamlessly where there is little to no hair on the side of the head.

It does not go as to say that you NEED to do a buzz cut to get this look but if you ever go that route and let it grow a little you can get this look and feel like a king just like Messi for a while.

The Faded Front Spike

The Faded Front Spike

Messi has embraced his most iconic looks over the past few years where he always has his beard. This haircut is super common amongst men as of late and rightfully so. It just looks easy on the eye and if you have a dense beard you can pull this off easily.

The sides have a skin fade which is super common with the trends as of late and Leo’s look was definitely an inspiration for many men across the globe. For ordinary people and celebrities alike.

This cut is great for any occasion and circumstance, it has personality and can be acceptable in professional and casual environments.

Definitely take inspiration and experiment on your own if you feel like you need a change in your haircut diary.

The Faux Cut With Taper

The Faux Cut with Taper

This is another cut that has a fade in it and it seems to be a common motif for Leo and his hair. It looks great when brushed to the side and back a little bit. The contrast between the sides and the top compliment each other perfectly and is easy on the eyes.

A super fun and quirky haircut to have as it is memorable when paired with a dense beard it accentuates the head and face just right.

It’s not too on the nose or obnoxious, it’s clean and professional and can be presented in almost every setting. You can see a lot of men try this combo as of late so it’s a safe haircut for you to experiment with.

The haircut however looks best when it’s groomed. You will need to make sure your beard is trimmed and the best part about this haircut is the sharp edges on the side of the head, which is shaved to bring out and accentuate a sharp hairline.

The Faux Hawk Fade

The Faux Hawk Fade

The crew cut is super popular in the men’s haircut industry. It accentuates sharp edges and fades in a very tasteful manner. Leo is no stranger to this haircut as he had done it for a hot minute before we went ahead and changed up his hair into more subtle styles.

It may be one of the best cuts on him as it honestly looked great and suited him quite well. It definitely is in one of the top three in terms of popularity and fashion sense. Although it was definitely inspired, it feels as though Leo had set the standard for one of the best haircuts in the game.

It’s a complex cut in terms of difficulty but look wise it seems like any other haircut. But hair stylists are no strangers to this cut as it has to be one of the most requested cuts in the industry.

The hairline is accentuated with razors. For this haircut the top of the head has more hair than the sides, however, the sides require a skin fade. It seems like a risky choice to ask from the barber, but once you take that leap of faith you will be more comfortable with your hair than you ever will be than before.

It’s definitely a fan favourite and once again among the top three haircuts the G.O.A.T of football has ever rocked. Paired with a healthy beard this could be one of your favourite go to haircuts to try out for yourself.

The Blonde Streaks

The Blonde Streaks

Last but not least, the blonde streaks hairstyle is a personal favourite. Not anybody can pull it off but Messi sure did set the standard for great experimental hairstyles despite his carefree and chaotic takes on his older hair.

It’s a simple side brush haircut with tapered sides accompanied by consistent blond streaks all over the top. It is highly experimental and quite difficult to pull off.

The process might sound a little bit too enduring but there’s nothing wrong with stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new for a change. Who knows what results may lay ahead for you? You may love it and discover yourself in a way you never thought before. So don’t knock it before you try it.

Since Messi has had dark hair all his life, he has definitely had to bleach it blonde. It was a giant leap of faith for him as he is not one for “funky” shades on his hair. Even superstars can feel anxious sometimes. But he seized the day and did it and it turned out absolutely stellar.

Although bleaching takes a toll on the health of the hair but with healthy enough hair anybody can try it. It’s a great look to experimentally try and pull off but Messi makes it look easy.

Frequently Asked Question

Now that the informative portions are out of the way, here are some questions you can unwind and learn from if you’ve yet to perfect the art behind Messi’s haircut!

What is Messi’s current hairstyle called?

At the moment, Lionel Messi, the forward of MLS Club Inter Miami, currently wears a textured cut with a mid-fade to boost his confidence when he’s both on and off the pitch. If you’re not a big fan of the design, however, you can try out a feathery faux hawk, another option that Messi wore during his spell at Camp Nou.

Who is Messi’s barber?

In recent times, it was unveiled that most South American footballers involving the likes of Neymar and Messi enhance their confidence with the help of one barber, who goes by the name of Elias Torres.

Final Verdict

While Messi has shown everything to walk the talk and sealed his name in the world of football as one of the Greatest Of All Time, another element of his that developed and improved rapidly and consistently is Messi’s hair.

Though the now 37-year-old preferred hairdos comprising outgrown layers during the formative years of his career, La Pulga leaned towards shorter hairdos involving tons of texture as he got older. In fact, he became so fond of shorter hairdos, that the winger turned forward still rocks a short textured cut with a mid-fade to this day.

Moving on, before you plan on replicating one of Messi’s haircuts, consider aligning each option with your preferences. You may also take your hair density and lifestyle into account to further find success with this trend.

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