He started out as a kid with curls hanging past his ears and ended up with a textured crop and a low taper fade. The Lionel Messi haircut evolution really comes down to three big moments: the long-haired Barcelona years, the platinum blonde of 2016, and the bearded look he has kept ever since.
- He kept his hair long from his Barcelona debut in 2004 right through to August 2011. Bleacher Report tracked the whole run.
- He chopped it off in August 2011, then went and scored 91 goals in the 2012 calendar year.
- The blonde came after the 2016 Copa America final, which he lost to Chile on penalties.
- These days it’s a short textured top, a soft taper and a close-trimmed beard.
- He turned 39 mid-tournament in 2026 and finished as a runner-up on 19 July.
Timeline Table
| Years | Hairstyle |
| 2003–2007 | Shaggy ear-length curls |
| 2008–2011 | Long hair, side-swept fringe |
| 2011–2014 | Buzz cut and crew cut |
| 2014–2015 | Short modern mullet, then faux hawk |
| 2016 | Platinum blonde |
| 2017–2022 | Textured crop with a full beard |
| 2023–2026 | Low taper fade, textured top |
2003–2007: The Shaggy Curls
Haircut name: Shaggy layered curls.
Key features: Ear-length, no product, middle parting, generally a bit of a mess.
Why people loved it: You could spot him a mile off. The hair flew about behind him as he skipped past defenders. According to Yahoo, Lionel Messi was 18 when he came on for Maxi Rodriguez at the 2006 World Cup and scored against Serbia and Montenegro 14 minutes later.
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2008–2011: Long Hair and a Fringe
Haircut name: Grown-out fringe.
Key features: Heavy sweep at the front, longer at the neck, no fade anywhere.
Why people loved it: This was his four-Ballon d’Or stretch, so the hair became shorthand for peak Barcelona Messi. It also took roughly no effort, which never hurts.
2011–2014: The Big Chop
Haircut name: Buzz cut, then a crew cut.
Key features: Clippered sides, very little left on top.
Why people loved it: Timing, mostly. He cut it in August 2011, then had the best year any footballer has ever had. The 91 goals in 2012 were 79 for Barcelona (59 in La Liga, 13 in the Champions League, five in the Copa del Rey, two in the Spanish Super Cup) and 12 for Argentina.
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2014–2015: Mullet and Faux Hawk
Haircut name: Short modern mullet, followed by a faux hawk.
Key features: Choppy fringe, fuller sides, a raised strip running front to back.
Why people loved it: Buro247 rates the faux hawk as the moment he properly started messing about with his look. It gave younger fans something with a bit of edge, rather than yet another neat crop.
2016: The Platinum Blonde
Haircut name: Bleached platinum with the dark roots showing.
Key features: Full bleach on top, natural colour underneath, dark beard for contrast.
Why people loved it: Nobody saw it coming. As per XO Salon & Spa, he’d just missed a penalty against Chile and was thinking hard about quitting Argentina. Then he turned up blonde.
“I introduced this change to start from zero,” Messi said, per ESPN. “There had been many issues that had taken place, and I told myself I needed to break away from the past and start over.”
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2017–2022: The Bearded Years
Haircut name: Textured crop with a full beard.
Key features: Two or three inches on top, tapered sides, and a proper beard that balances out his oval face.
Why people loved it: It’s the look in every photo of him lifting the 2022 World Cup, and it still holds up after 90 minutes in the wet.
2023–2026: Taper Fade and Textured Crop
Haircut name: Low taper fade with a textured top.
Key features: Soft fade round the ears and neckline, choppy layers up top, and nothing shaved to the skin.
Why people loved it: It works on almost any hair type and grows out without looking scruffy. Haircut Inspiration claims the Messi cut is the most requested haircut among barbers.
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Messi’s Current 2026 Hairstyle
Short textured top, low taper fade, matte finish. No shine, no hard parting, no skin fade. The beard is trimmed back rather than full. The Sporting News put it well: the theatrics are gone, and he just plays. He wore this cut through the whole 2026 tournament, including the final defeat to Spain in New Jersey.
Most Iconic Messi Haircuts
- Platinum blonde (2016) — still the most talked-about hair change football has had.
- Long shaggy fringe (2008–2011) — the Barcelona peak in hair form.
- Buzz cut (2011–2012) — the one he wore for the 91-goal year.
- Textured crop and beard (2018–2022) — the World Cup-winning image.
- Low taper fade (2023–2026) — the one everyone actually asks for now.
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How to Ask Your Barber for Messi’s Haircut
- Haircut name: Textured crop.
- Fade type: Low or mid taper. Say “taper”, not “skin fade”, or you’ll walk out far shorter than you wanted.
- Top length: 2–4 inches, cut into choppy layers rather than straight across.
- Styling: Matte clay or light wax, worked in with your fingers. Leave the comb alone.
- Upkeep: Back in every two or three weeks.
Which Messi Haircut Suits You?
- Oval face: Pretty much all of them. The textured crop is a good choice.
- Square face: Textured top with a taper. Softens a heavy jaw.
- Round face: You want height, so opt for a short quiff or a brush-up.
- Diamond face: Something mid-length, like the grown-out fringe.
- Thin hair: Short and textured. It fakes thickness better than length does.
- Thick or wavy hair: Undercuts and messy crops handle the volume.
Example: If you have thick, straight hair and an oval face, Messi’s 2023–2026 low taper fade with a textured crop is likely to work well. Use a small amount of matte clay and finger-style the hair for a natural finish similar to his recent appearances.
FAQs
What is Messi’s haircut called?
Ans: A textured crop with a low taper fade. Ask for choppy layers on top and tapered sides.
When did Messi have blonde hair?
Ans: Summer 2016, just after the Copa America final. He was back to natural dark brown within months.
Does Messi have a fade?
Ans: Yes, a low or mid-taper is recommended. It’s softer than a skin fade and grows out without leaving an obvious line.
Who cuts Messi’s hair?
Ans: Stylist Ariel Bermudez has worked with him for over a decade.
Is the Messi haircut good for thin hair?
Ans: Yes. Short textured styles make hair look fuller, especially with matte product instead of gel.
How old is Messi in 2026?
Ans: He’s 39, born 24 June 1987 in Rosario, and he had his birthday during the 2026 World Cup.
Sources & References
- Yahoo – Messi got shaggy curls at the 2006 World Cup and scored against Serbia and Montenegro just 14 minutes later.
- Haircut Inspiration – Messi cut is the most requested haircut among barbers.
- XO Salon & Spa – With the platinum blonde, Messi missed a penalty against Chile and was thinking hard about quitting Argentina
- Buro247 – The faux hawk look started messing about with his look.
