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Worst World Cup haircuts: Neymar, Modric and Witzel among those turning heads with more than just their football skills

Every four years the World Cup unites the most stylish footballers on the planet. But by the look of this lot, some might need to return to the hairdresser to fix their hairdos

THE World Cup is well and truly in full swing and we've already seen some spectacular goals.

Dries Mertens' volley against Panama, Cristiano Ronaldo leading the way for Portugal and our very own Harry Kane getting off the mark with two against Tunisia.

 Neymar's hairstyle was a bigger highlight than his play in the opening game
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Neymar's hairstyle was a bigger highlight than his play in the opening gameCredit: Getty - Contributor

But despite all the excitement and joy, there's been other times we've had to pinch ourselves to believe what we're seeing - and we're not talking about the skills.

Several hair crimes have been committed in this tournament already, whether it's bizarre ponytails or, dodgy dye jobs and Neymar's spaghetti mistake.

Here are the worst haircuts we've seen so far in Russia (and a few classics from yesteryear too!)

Domagoj Vida

 This terrible haircut got Domagoj Vida a good bit of backlash on social media.
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This terrible haircut got Domagoj Vida a good bit of backlash on social media.Credit: Getty - Contributor
 Blink twice and Vida's hairstyle makes him look a bit like Star Wars' Jar Jar Binks
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Blink twice and Vida's hairstyle makes him look a bit like Star Wars' Jar Jar BinksCredit: Alamy

Who would of thought Jar Jar Binks would make a shock appearance at the opening game for Croatia at the World Cup?

Vida’s haircut most likely gave the Croatian side a competitive edge in their first game, distracting the opposition so much so that Croatia came out on top, beating Nigeria 2-0.

Seems that Vida, 29, was certainly living la Vida loca...

Neymar 

 Neymar's haircut was compared to a bowl of spaghetti
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Neymar's haircut was compared to a bowl of spaghettiCredit: Getty - Contributor
 Are these the strands of hair from Neymar's head?
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Are these the strands of hair from Neymar's head?Credit: Alamy
France’s Paul Pogba flies out his barber to Russia amidst the 2018 World Cup for a new haircut

Seems spag bol or a cheeky Bombay bad boy pot noodle is all that’s on the menu for the Brazilian striker.

After being criticised back in the World Cup of 2014 for his terrible flamboyant emo-like Mohawk-style, you'd have thought Neymar, 26, would pull out all the stops this year.

But it's just got worse.

Even Eric Cantona got in on the act by putting a bowl of spaghetti on his head.

Maybe Neymar is a fan of Italian cuisine, who knows. But there's no excuse for this mane, man.

Keisuke Honda

 Japan star Keisuke Honda's hairstyle was a lot flatter than his performance
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Japan star Keisuke Honda's hairstyle was a lot flatter than his performanceCredit: Getty Images - Getty


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A longer version of the comb-over.

Bobby Charlton would've wished he had a less thinner thatch to pull this one off.

But Honda, normally a style icon in his homeland, has had a trip to the barbers to forget.

With a long top, shaved on one side and long at the back, it’s hard to understand what the 32-year-old went in and asked for when making this courageous decision.

Luka Modric

 Luka Modric was guilty of a major hair crime for Croatia's World Cup opener
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Luka Modric was guilty of a major hair crime for Croatia's World Cup openerCredit: Reuters
 It was hard not to see a resemblance with Willy Wonka in Modric's style
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It was hard not to see a resemblance with Willy Wonka in Modric's styleCredit: Getty - Contributor

Guess Willy Wonka has had enough of the Chocolate Factory and hopped on a plane to Russia!

Modric’s hair has been his statement piece for years.

Normally kept in place with a headband, it seems to be thinning of late.

Maybe a short back and sides would be a good option?

Either way, it doesn't stop him from playing a killer-pass.

Anibal Godoy

 Anibal Godoy appears as shocking as his haircut
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Anibal Godoy appears as shocking as his haircutCredit: AP:Associated Press
 A hairbrush is less spiky that Anibal Godoy's mane
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A hairbrush is less spiky that Anibal Godoy's maneCredit: Getty - Contributor

Panama midfielder Godoy, 28, recently made his debut against Belgium, and he looks just as shocked as us.

In fairness, he had a good game, but his performance wasn't as electric as his hairstyle.

Maybe, if he had a little more on the sides and taking off somewhat more off the top, it would've had a better shape to it.

Which sounds a little like Panama's defending in that second half of their opening game against Belgium.

Axel Witsel

 Axel Witsel throws it back to the 70s with a big afro
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Axel Witsel throws it back to the 70s with a big afroCredit: AFP

Axel seems to have caught disco fever with this hairdo.

A ruffle shirt, tight trousers and some platform shoes will have him fitting right in for a 70s club night.

Other notable 'fro' offenders are Marouane Fellaini, Willian and Marcelo... in fairness, theirs look better kept.

However, can his hair survive a header?

Mohamed Salah

 Mo Salah's curly mop-top was just the ticket when perms were popular in Liverpool in the 80s
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Mo Salah's curly mop-top was just the ticket when perms were popular in Liverpool in the 80sCredit: Getty Images - Getty

No wonder Liverpool's Salah fitted in so well to live in Liverpool.

Of course, adopting the infamous perm, as sported by Reds legends Graeme Souness, Kevin Keegan, Phil Thompson and Phil Neal, will help adhere you to the fans.

Although, Salah, 26, could look borderline hipster with those curls.

But let's remember, he's a footballer and not in a punk band from New York.

Jerome Boateng

 Going grey early? Jerome Boateng's haircut was as dour as Germany's first match against Mexico
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Going grey early? Jerome Boateng's haircut was as dour as Germany's first match against MexicoCredit: The Mega Agency

Grey before his time?

At 29, Jerome Boateng is far too young to be ageing... and he needn't do it to himself by dying his hair a suspicious colour of grey.

The bizarre line shaved into the front does very little to distract us from what's on top too.

It's a haircut almost as shocking as Germany's defeat to Mexico.

William Troost-Ekong

 William Troost-Ekong won't have you green with envy with his hairdo
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William Troost-Ekong won't have you green with envy with his hairdoCredit: AFP or licensors

The Nigerian star, 24, must think that the bleached look is back again this World Cup.

Give props to him though, the green dyed hair does represent his country's colours, however fluffy that bizarre green patch is.

And it does go nicely with their quite brilliant World Cup jersey that's been flying off the shelves.

We've seen worse this year.

Marko Dmitrović

 Marko Dmitrović would be better shaving his hair off completely
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Marko Dmitrović would be better shaving his hair off completelyCredit: AFP or licensors

We think the Serbian really needs to reconsider his choice of hairstyle.

For one, and we don't want to me mean pointing this out, Dmitrović, 26, seems to be losing his hair.

The receding hairline is doing him no favours, so a short shaved look might be exactly what he needs to revamp his look.

But it would be a crime leaving it just like that!

Gone but not forgotten... here's some hairstyles from tournaments past we just can't get out of our head

Trifon Ivanov, 1994 World Cup

 Trifon Ivanov's mullet was the talk of USA '94
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Trifon Ivanov's mullet was the talk of USA '94Credit: Getty - Contributor

Talk about a mullet from hell!

Ivanov really gave the mullet an all-time low back in 1994, which is a bad do as it is!

Mullet-mad Trifon Ivanov was known by his unflattering nickname 'The Bulgarian Wolf', and from the looks of it you can see why. Scary stuff.

Alexi Lalas, 1994 World Cup

 But Alexi Lalas ran Ivanov close with his very own bushy ginger haired look
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But Alexi Lalas ran Ivanov close with his very own bushy ginger haired lookCredit: Getty - Contributor

Well, what is there to say about this one?

The flock of ginger hair combined with that mess of a beard! Lalas could have been a real 90s Viking and none of us would have ever known.

But it certainly made the defender stand out from the crowd, and after the tournament he moved to Serie A.

Romania squad, 1998 World Cup

 Romania's fashion statement in 1998 made them stand out for the wrong reasons
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Romania's fashion statement in 1998 made them stand out for the wrong reasonsCredit: Getty - Contributor

In 1998, the Romanian side dyed their hair peroxide blonde, reportedly after losing a bet with the their coach Anghel Iordanescu.

We can only hope it was a bet because the side certainly didn’t go on to become a team of models following that disaster of a tournament for the likes of Dan Petrescu and Co.

However, the dye job didn't last long and they were soon back to their normal hair colours the next game.

Ronaldo, 2002 World Cup

 Ronaldo's barber clearly missed a bit with his hairstyle
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Ronaldo's barber clearly missed a bit with his hairstyleCredit: Getty - Contributor

You missed a bit!

For some reason, rather than shave his hair completely off, he left a little tuft at the front.

The Brazilian legend already stood out as a top player, he didn't need to go to such lengths to change his look.

But the trim seemed to have been a good luck charm for Brazil, as they went on to lift the trophy in 2002 with Ronaldo being star of the show.

 

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