Leo Messi’s decision to dye his hair platinum blonde this summer took the football world by storm. The Argentine superstar has sported his signature dark hair for his entire career, so this bold new look came as a major surprise. In this in-depth article, we’ll explore the possible reasons behind Messi’s dramatic change and what it might signify about the next phase of his iconic career.
His wife’s influence
One of the most popular theories is that Messi’s wife Antonela Roccuzzo encouraged him to go blonde. The longtime couple got married in 2017 and have three sons together. Roccuzzo is known for her own bleach blonde hair, so it’s possible she convinced Messi to try the lighter look.
Footballers’ wives and girlfriends have a reputation for influencing their style, fashion and even career choices. Former Spurs star David Beckham was famously encourage by his wife Victoria to experiment with bold hairstyles over the years. Perhaps Roccuzzo felt it was time for her husband to try something new after sporting the same look for so long.
Signalling a fresh start
Another reason for Messi’s blonde do could be to signal a new beginning. He shocked world football last summer by leaving Barcelona after nearly 20 years with the club. However, his first season at new team Paris St Germain was disappointing, with an early Champions League exit and lack of chemistry with fellow superstars Neymar and Kylian Mbappé.
Changing up his hair colour could be Messi’s way of drawing a line under last season and motivating himself for a fresh start. The departure from his trademark style reminds fans that even at 35, he is still eager to reinvent himself.
| Season | Club | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | PSG | 11 | 15 |
| 2020-21 | Barcelona | 38 | 14 |
As the stats show, Messi’s goal contributions declined last season compared to his final year at Barca. The blonde hair signifies he’s ready to get back to his previous outstanding levels.
Homage to idols
Messi has spoken in the past about how Diego Maradona was one of his major childhood inspirations. The Argentine icon sported light hair during parts of his illustrious career. During the 1986 World Cup where Maradona led Argentina to glory, his hair was bleached blonde.
With the next World Cup coming up in November 2022, some speculate Messi is paying homage to his idol by copying his iconic hair colour. If Messi were to lead his country to World Cup glory, the shared blonde hair would be a fitting tribute to Maradona.
Charity fundraising
While discussing Messi’s new look, teammate Leandro Paredes revealed the colour change was part of a pledge to support a cause close to Messi’s heart.
“He made a pledge, as we all know. I don’t know if I can say…”, Paredes told reporters. “He always likes to help, to contribute, to do his bit.”
Though the exact charity is unknown, Messi is a UNICEF goodwill ambassador and has donated to various healthcare causes over the years. Based on Paredes’ comments, it seems the blonde hair is related to a charitable pledge or cause.
Conclusion
In the end, only Messi knows the true motivation behind his dramatic change in appearance. It could be a combination of factors, including his wife’s influence, marking a new start, paying tribute to idols, and charity work.
While the blonde hair certainly got people talking, Messi will be focused on letting his continued brilliance on the pitch do the real talking. After an underwhelming first season at PSG, he will be as determined as ever to help deliver the Champions League trophy to Paris.
The blonde hair ultimately doesn’t matter – Messi’s legendary talent and skill remain unchanged. But this surprising stylistic switch up will still go down as one of the main talking points of his incredible career. It shows that even as he approaches his late 30s, Messi still has the power to surprise us.