Image via Getty/Complex Original
Neymar has always stood out on the soccer field. The 25-year-old Brazilian forward is a magician with the soccer ball—he’s impossible to keep our eyes off of—and after participating in his first World Cup in 2014, his star power is only shining brighter thanks to his recent move from Barcelona to the French club, Paris Saint-Germain. Not just any move but one worth a world record-breaking 222 million euros. There’s nobody hotter than Neymar right now.
But there’s another reason Neymar stands out on the turf: It’s that hair, a signature of his though ever-changing. Since he was a young soccer player just getting his footing, Neymar da Silva Santos Jr. has always had a memorable ‘do. He’s gone blonde, he’s gone emo-band straight, he’s had his sides shaved, and he’s let his fro grow out. And he’s been documenting his style evolution over these past few years on his Instagram, which boasts almost 80 million followers. The public just can’t keep their eyes off him. As Neymar waits to make his highly anticipated PSG debut in the coming weeks (and to toast his recent appearance on Complex’s Sneaker Shopping), let’s take a look back and celebrate the soccer superstar’s iconic hair moments over the past six years.
Aug. 10, 2011
Nineteen-year-old Neymar was already taking huge risks with his hair from a young age. In fact, this hairstyle might be his most out there. With this gravity-defying ‘do, the Brazilian star in the making had served up a tall, ombré mohawk that would give any king of the jungle some serious mane envy. It may look casually bedhead chic but you just know a lot of effort (and even more hairspray) went into making this ‘do stand all the way up. Also, imagine heading a ball with that crown! Perhaps playing soccer with hair this tall proved to be too difficult; Neymar has yet to bring back this style.
April 19, 2012
Party in the front AND party in the back! It’s a party all around when it comes to Neymar’s hair. In the spring of 2012, Neymar kept a little bit of his signature ombré but relaxed that mohawk all the way down for a classic ’80s style mullet. He’s still got an affinity for the spiky strands, but unlike his previous look, he rocks some straightener-happy bangs with a curtained back to match. Though it wouldn’t be necessarily appropriate for a soccer match, this hairdo would go real well with an acid wash denim jacket.
Oct. 22, 2012
He’s gone from the ’80s to the early aughts in just a matter of months. Here he’s working a real classic 2000s boy band look (it’s borderline emo band frontman). Those spiky highlights especially date his style, though Neymar is experimenting with them a full decade after they’ve gone out of style. You’ve gotta give him props for ignoring the fast turn of trends.
June 19, 2013
This is a classic Neymar look that his fans will easily recognize. He loves his short sides and dramatic top, and though he’s had his hair bolder and bigger before, Neymar’s tress is never not interesting even when it’s back to the basics. But fear not, he’s still experimenting with style. His hair here is given a little extra edge with a slight reddish tint that’s even more exaggerated when the sun hits. Boy wonder is on fire—just like his mane!
June 23, 2014
This is another classic style, and one that he’s widely known for, since he sported it during the World Cup in 2014. (That also means this hair has been immortalized in the form of paper masks fans have sported during these games.) Neymar will eventually go full blonde in a couple years, but here he gives us a hint of what’s to come with faded bleached blonde highlights on top. He’s let his naturally dark roots grow in, leaving his black hair as his base. It’s almost as if he’s dipped just the tips in a pot of gold—and he looks fantastic.
March 26, 2015
Long and slicked on top and shaved on the side—this is one of Neymar’s best looks. Has anyone ever sported a better coif than this one? Here, Neymar gels his locks for a one-side swoop that looks like a cresting ocean wave. It’s even better when he’s got serious game face on, since his hair ends up matching his arched, expressive eyebrows. But that slight curl at the tip tells us he’s still playful (though we should already know that from his constantly changing hair).
Sept. 10, 2016
It’s not easy pulling off peroxide blonde but Neymar’s got the steez to make it work (another reason for envy). Against his tan complexion and dark eyebrows, the shock of bleached hair is truly a statement piece. That’s why he can keep his cut pretty basic (short, with his natural curls), and still make heads turn. Now he’s definitely impossible not to notice on the field—even from the nosebleed section. When it comes to the football league, he’s the most atomic blonde of them all.
May 6, 2017
This is possibly the most natural his hair has ever looked. No bleach and no mohawk, and certainly no straightener—Neymar lets his natural curls hang loose with this low-key fro. There are slight patches of brown in his curly field of hair, but the dye job is much subtler than his previous ones. Doesn’t he look like a greek god statue, though?
Aug. 5, 2017
While still sporting the classic curls from just a few months ago, Neymar couldn’t shake off his penchant for trying bold looks. His sides are shorter, as he often likes them to be, and he’s added blonde highlights again—though in less concentrated amounts than the blonde he was sporting during the World Cup. This most recent rendition is like a mashup of Neymar’s previous looks, and of course, he looks fabulous as always.