Erling Haaland has shocked football fans after saying goodbye to the long blonde hair that became one of his most recognizable features. The Manchester City striker debuted a drastic buzz cut in a video posted on his Instagram, just hours before the club's first Premier League match of the season. But fans were far more interested in his face than his haircut—and some joked his lips looked different too.
The Famous Hair Is Gone
For years, Haaland's long blonde hair was almost as recognizable as his football skills. He wore it tied into a ponytail, pulled into a top knot, or left loose around his shoulders. His hairstyle became a huge part of his online image.
During the 2026 World Cup, pictures and videos of his hair spread across social media, and fans joked about his Viking-like appearance.
That all changed when Haaland posted a video showing the haircut process. At the beginning, his hair was still long and reached well past his shoulders. He then went through several stages before ending up with a very short buzz cut.
He explained that he had considered cutting it after the World Cup. "I was thinking about doing this straight after the World Cup, but I was so busy so I didn't do it," he said. "The season starts now, so it's time to get a fresh start."
The Samson Reference
Part of Haaland's nervousness came from advice he'd received. Zlatan Ibrahimović had warned him not to cut his hair. "Zlatan told me never cut your hair because your strength is in your hair," Haaland said. "So I'm a bit nervous."
The comment referenced the biblical story of Samson, whose strength was connected to his hair. Haaland went ahead anyway, describing the style as a "buzzcut, as I've been in the military." He later captioned another post, "Short hair don't care."
Her Reaction Was Everything
Haaland's girlfriend, Isabel Haugseng Johansen, was there while he got the haircut. When the barber started cutting off the long pieces, she reportedly yelled, "Oh my god," and admitted, "I think I will cry."
Once Haaland had the buzz cut, she covered her mouth in shock. After getting a better look, her reaction became much more positive. "It looks nice. You look cute," she told him.
Haaland apparently wanted a tougher appearance rather than a cute one. Johansen later joked that she might wake up and wonder who he was.
The new look also surprised teammates. Jack Grealish reportedly laughed and told him, "You look about 10 years old." Ibrahimović had an even stronger reaction: "What the f* did you do? You lost a bet or what?"
Manager Pep Guardiola simply said, "You are lucky to have hair. I would've loved to have it."
The Internet Reacts
As soon as Haaland's clip went viral, fans divided over his new look. Some were convinced the haircut made him look younger. Others thought it completely changed his face.
One person wrote, "He looks more Swedish than Norwegian now," while another joked, "Went from female, to boy band, to perfect, to a thug." Someone else was convinced the whole thing had to be fake: "This better be AI."
His lips also became a talking point, with several people wondering whether Haaland had work done.
Why This Works
This is the exact kind of content that makes the internet fun. A massive football star doing something completely unexpected, his girlfriend losing it in real-time, and teammates roasting him—that's shareable content.
Haaland himself seemed to know exactly what he was doing. He said he couldn't wait for City supporters to sing, "Who the f—ing hell is that?" before adding, "Imagine if I score a header tomorrow."
Bottom Line
The hair is gone, the internet had its meltdown, and we're all better for it. Whether you think he looks completely different or you preferred the old look, this is the most entertaining haircut story in football in years.
Key takeaways
- Haaland cut his famous long blonde hair before the new Premier League season
- His girlfriend initially said she would cry but then said he looked "cute"
- Zlatan warned him not to cut it, referencing Samson
- Fans and teammates had mixed reactions, with some saying he looked 10 years younger
Frequently asked questions
Why did Haaland cut his hair?
He wanted a fresh start for the new season and had been considering the cut since the World Cup.
How did his girlfriend react?
She initially said she might cry but quickly recovered, telling him he looked cute.
What did Zlatan say?
Zlatan warned him never to cut his hair because "your strength is in your hair." When he saw the result, he asked if Haaland had lost a bet.
What did teammates say?
Jack Grealish said he looked about 10 years old. Manager Pep Guardiola joked about being jealous of his hair.
Inspired by reporting from: boredpanda.com, aol.com