World Football: The 10 Most Ridiculous Hairstyles in History

By (World Football Lead Writer) on July 8, 2011

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1990:  Carlos Valderrama of Colombia in action during a World Cup game against Cameroon in Italy.  Cameroon won the game 2-1. Mandatory Credit: David Cannon  /Allsport
David Cannon/Getty Images

How about a little light-hearted banter to carry you into the weekend.

Here are a selection of 10 of the worst hairstyles ever to have graced a football field.

Some short, some long, some so ridiculous they became as famous as the player who sported them.

I'm bound to have missed a few good ones, so please add your suggestions as comments below.

David Beckham

5 June 2001: England Captain David Beckham keeps two balls under control during England training at the Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece.                   +++Digital Image+++ Mandatory Credit: Stu Forster/ALLSPORT
Stu Forster/Getty Images

David Beckham has sported a wide array of hairstyles during his time as one of the most famous footballers on the planet, but none worse than this one.

It was 2001 when he pulled out the Taxi Driver inspired mohawk. What was he thinking?

Ronaldo

YOKOHAMA - JUNE 30:  Portrait of Ronaldo of Brazil during the Germany v Brazil, World Cup Final match played at the International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama, Japan on June 30, 2002. Brazil won 2-0. (Photo by Gary M. Prior/Getty Images)
Gary M. Prior/Getty Images

Brazilian Ronaldo pulled out a classic at the 2002 World Cup, which can only be described using the kind of terminology and language Bleacher Report steers clear of.

As you'll see later, it was quite a tournament for bad barnets.

The Romanian National Team

30 Jun 1998:  Dan Petrescu of Romania during the World Cup second round match against Croatia at the Stade Lescure in Bordeaux, France. \ Mandatory Credit: Shaun Botterill /Allsport
Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Romania made quite an impression at the 1998 World Cup, not least when the entire squad bleached their hair to promote togetherness on the field.

After beating England in the group stages they were knocked out in the second round by Croatia. So it didn't really do the trick.

Bobby Charlton

LONDON - APRIL 28:  Bobby Charlton of Manchester United runs with the ball during the League Division One match between Chelsea and Manchester United held on April 28, 1973 at Stamford Bridge, in London. Chelsea won the match 1-0. This was a special game
Getty Images/Getty Images

Sir Bobby Charlton was so good as a footballer he could get away with almost anything on top.

But his sweep-over was so grand it has stood the test of time. Try and tease your thinning locks across your head these days and people will say you're sporting "the Bobby Charlton."

Taribo West

IBARAKI - JUNE 2:  Taribo West of Nigeria  in the team line up for the National Anthems before the Group F match between Nigeria and Argentina of the World Cup Group Stages  played at the Ibaraki-Prefectural Kashima Soccer Stadium, Ibaraki, Japan on June
Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Another belter from the 2002 World Cup, this one sported by Nigeria's Taribo West.

Vagner Love

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - MAY 10: Denis Kolodin (L) of FC Dynamo Moscow battles for the ball with Vagner Love of PFC CSKA Moscow during the Russian Football League Championship match between FC Dynamo and PFC CSKA Moscow at the Khimki Stadium on May 10, 2009 in Kh
Epsilon/Getty Images

Dreadlocks will always be cool, but Vagner Love committed a fashion crime against the movement by dying his blue.

Here he is in 2009 playing for CSKA Moscow.

Jason Lee

17 SEP 1995:  DAVE WATSON OF EVERTON CHALLENGES JASON LEE OF NOTTINGHAM FOREST   DURING NOTTINGHAM FOREST V EVERTON IN THE FA PREMIERSHIP AT CITY GROUND. Mandatory Credit: Shaun Botterill/ALLSPORT
Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Jason Lee's career should have been remembered for its goals, but the former Nottingham Forest striker ultimately became more famous for his hairstyle.

TV show Fantasy Football labeled it the pineapple, and fans taunted the forward by singing, "He's got a pineapple on his head," to tune of "He's got the whole world in his hands."

Kevin Keegan

Undated:  Kevin Keegan in action for SV Hamburg during a German League match. Mandatory Credit: Allsport
Getty Images/Getty Images

Kevin Keegan's 1970s perm was a classic. Whether it was cool at the time is impossible to tell, but it certainly looks ridiculous four decades on.

Chris Waddle

8 Jun-8 Jul 1990:  Chris Waddle of England in action during a match in the World Cup in Italy. \ Mandatory Credit: David  Cannon/Allsport
David Cannon/Getty Images

If you thought the mullet was resigned to middle America and eastern Europe, think again.

England's Chris Waddle sported this permed beauty at the 1990 World Cup, and it went home after he missed a penalty in a semi-final shootout with West Germany.

Carlos Valderama

Carlos Valderrama of Colombia during the Round of 16 match against the Cameroon at the 1990 FIFA World Cup on 23 June 1990 at the San Paolo Stadium in Naples, Italy. The match resulted in an 2-1 extra time victory for the Camaroon   .(Photo by David Canno
David Cannon/Getty Images

But Waddle couldn't hold a candle to the hair star of Italia 90 that summer.

Colombian midfielder Carlos Valderama pulled out the biggest hair the game had ever seen. And he rocked it with some style too.

Abel Xavier

HOLLYWOOD - JULY 11:  MLS player Abel Xavier arrives at the 2007 ESPY Awards at the Kodak Theatre on July 11, 2007 in Hollywood, California.  (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Vince Bucci/Getty Images

Abel Xavier has had so many ridiculous hairstyles in his career it's hard to pick a winner.

This picture was taken in 2007, with Xavier presumably on the red carpet for the "Most Ridiculous Hair in Football Awards."

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