Footballer Erling Haaland has gotten rid of his iconic blonde locks. On August 23, the footballer posted a YouTube video documenting his haircut and the reactions from his friends and fellow footballers after seeing his new hairstyle.
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In the video, Haaland shared his apprehensions, revealing that Zlatan Ibrahimović had once advised him to never cut his hair because he believed your "strength is in your hair.” Haaland admitted he felt a little nervous about going against that advice, but decided to go ahead with the haircut anyway and get a buzz cut.
Erling Haaland chops his iconic locks
The footballer is known for his long, blonde hair, which he often lets loose or ties in a ponytail or a man bun. However, on Sunday, ahead of the new season, he decided to let them go. He shared a YouTube vlog showing the haircut. In the video, Haaland explained that he had planned to cut his hair right after the 2026 World Cup, but became too busy with work.
“This beautiful blonde hair… time to let it go. I was thinking about doing it straight after the World Cup, but I was so busy, so I didn’t do it. The season starts now, so it’s time to get a fresh start,” he says in the clip.
{{/usCountry}}“This beautiful blonde hair… time to let it go. I was thinking about doing it straight after the World Cup, but I was so busy, so I didn’t do it. The season starts now, so it’s time to get a fresh start,” he says in the clip.
{{/usCountry}}Check out the video here:
How did the internet react?
Fans were shocked upon seeing Haaland's transformation. They flooded the comments section with cheeky humour. One YouTube user commented, “His girlfriend Isabel was literally going through the 5 stages of grief in real time.”
A fan commented, “+999 missed calls from shampoo and conditioner companies.” Someone else wrote, “He looks like a very happy 10-year-old boy.” Another wrote, “Jude Bellingham is crying in the corner somewhere, mourning that luscious Viking hair.” “Bet the hair tie company isn't happy,” a fan joked.
Some fans were supportive of the change. One wrote, “I adored the long hair!! But the new haircut looks really good, Erl, and you're awesome regardless.” Another commented, “All jokes aside, that haircut genuinely looks so good on him.”
Who is Erling Haaland?
Erling Haaland is Manchester City's Norwegian striker. He emerged from the 2026 World Cup as one of the tournament's biggest social media stars after helping Norway reach the quarter-finals.
The 26-year-old scored seven goals during Norway's run and gained more than 32 million Instagram followers during the 39-day tournament, the biggest growth of any player involved.
The audience will get its first look at Haaland's new hairstyle in competitive action when Manchester City begin the post-Pep Guardiola era.
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