Manchester City striker Erling Haaland revealed a dramatically shorter haircut Sunday, surprising football fans globally. The 26-year-old Norwegian star posted photos and a video of the transformation on social media.
Haaland's long blond hair and trademark ponytail had been a defining part of his public image for years. The distinctive look drew considerable attention during Norway's run to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, with supporters wearing Haaland-inspired wigs.
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, a former Borussia Dortmund teammate, commented "No way" on Haaland's post.
Haaland embraced the humor surrounding the change. He posted, "Short hair, don't care," and quipped during the styling process that he looked "like Kevin from Home Alone with this haircut." He also joked he could not wait for fans to sing about not recognizing him.
Haaland involved notable figures in the reveal, calling Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola and Swedish football legend Zlatan Ibrahimović. Guardiola joked, "You are lucky you have hair, I would love to have it." Ibrahimović reacted with mock disbelief, asking, "You've lost a bet or what? Oh my… Block me and erase my number."
The move contradicted previous advice from Ibrahimović, who had once told Haaland never to cut his hair, asserting that "the power is in the hair." Haaland had previously dismissed cutting his hair before the 2026 World Cup.
During the styling, Haaland referenced his "Viking" roots, stating, "The Vikings go short as well" while showing a picture of a short-haired Viking. Some fans joked on social media that he might have lost his "super powers" with the haircut.
The transformation quickly gained hundreds of thousands of reactions across social media platforms.
