Hair loss is a sensitive subject for a lot of men, but it especially has to be difficult when your career has your hair loss journey broadcast live on national television. Here at Balls, we have forged a list of the top ten best footballers who embraced being bald.
When nature takes it's course and decides that your hairline will recede until it hits your neck, or your bald spot slowly but surely continues to devour your entire head, there are essentially three options that a man has to choose from:
1) Get a Wayne Rooney style hair-transplant for thousands of euro.
2) Try to hide it with careful combing and hair gel.
3) Shave it off and rock the cue-ball.
Accept it, embrace it. Here are 10 footballers who chose option #3 and look far better for it.
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Top 10 Best Bald Footballers
Esteban Cambiasso
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Argentinian international Esteban Cambiasso is a hero. A player who gives everything in every game, he has aged like a fine wine and once he decided to scrap the whispy comb-over he looks far more menacing in the middle.
Arjen Robben
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Is it any coincidence that once Robben streamlined his head he suddenly became one of the most devastating attackers in world football? Yes, it probably is, but he has become synonymous with this look now and he's an absolute baller.
Lee Carsley
He never had much hair during his playing career, but once he gave up on the sides and the tuft in the middle, the bright bald head added at least double the intensity to his midfield play.
Although here's a negative: If you go bald, sunburn can become a serious problem.
Carsly is now having success coaching and will soon be giving Pep Guardiola a run for the best bald football manager. Carsly currently coaches the England U21's, where he won the u21 Euro's. He has now been heavilty linked to be the Republic of Ireland's next manager.
READ HERE: Report: Ex-Ireland International Lined Up As Stephen Kenny Replacement
READ HERE: Ex-Ireland Player Thinks Senior Job Might Be 'Step Backwards' For Lee Carsley
James Collins
Poor Jimmy really got dealt a rough hand, but he never let him get it him down. Thinning hair looks even worse when you start sweating, and Collins is a prime example of a 'blade 0' job that looks far better.
Pepe Reina
Everybody loves Pepe Reina in the dressing room, and it's obviously because he's a bubbly and positive person. A positive person who shaved his thinning hair.
Like so many men and bald footballers these days, Reina has compensated for the lack of hair on his head by growing out a full-length beard... and it looks great!
Reina is proving bald guys can still make the length out of their career, even with no hair. At 42 years old Reina is still playing football, still playing European football as a matter of fact with Spanish side Villarreal.
41 year old Pepe Reina saved a 90th minute penalty to help Villarreal beat Rennes!#UEL pic.twitter.com/UdasoP4vHx
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 5, 2023
Stephen Ireland
Where do we start with Stevie?
Allegedly bullied by his Irish teammates for getting hair plugs, he experimented with some shocking styles before he stopped caring and shaved it.
He looks much, much better, and a beard always helps if you can grow one.
Jonjo Shelvey
The Newcastle United midfielder suffers from alopecia, a condition he believes was caused by childhood trauma.
Today he is a big advocate about alopecia and tries to help young men who suffer with the condition.
He definitely rocks the bald footballer look.
Younes Kaboul
An unfortunate regular client of Marouane Chamakh's blind hairdresser for too long, Kaboul looks like a no-nonsense defender now as opposed to an extra from 'Bruno'.
Martin Skrtel
We can't have all sad before and after's right, we have to give balding men some hope.
Skrtel is the perfect example of having the total hair journey.
Start: Boy-band member.
Middle: Serial killer.
End: Hair transplant advertisement for bald footballers.
Skrtel knows what type of image he wants to go with, and he doesn't need hair.
Romelu Lukaku
As Lukaku has matured and evolved to the all round striker we know today, his hair had gotten shorter and shorter. From the dreads to a shaved cut, now Lukaku has embraced the bald head look.
Roy Keane
Ok, he was never bald, and rocks an impressive head of hair today, but the height of his playing career coincided with a skinhead look that made him absolutely terrifying to most midfielders. Definitely one of the best non-bald bald footballers
Apart from Patrick Viera, who was also bald.
READ HERE: Roy Keane Reveals Regret At Not Moving Away From Manchester Earlier
Zinedine Zidane
An icon to bald men all around the world, Zizou played most of his career with the "monk" style of keeping his hair despite a common bald spot on the top of his head.
When he shaved it all off for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he looked badass, he played a sensational tournament, and he benefited from enhanced aerodynamics when headbutting Marco Matterazzi.
He is definitely our top-ranked best bald footballer.
Baldness can have a serious impact on mental health, so in no way are we trying to make light of something that genuinely does upset a lot of men, but there are options, you can find something that works, but most importantly if you are happy with how you look, then others will be too.
The article was originally published on 1/9/21.
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