Soccer, footie, futbol, whatever your preferred nomenclature, the sport is aptly called the beautiful game, and for good reason. Perfectly manicured grass shimmering under stadium lights, overlapping runs confusing defenders, pinpoint crosses, majestic headers, and sometimes scantily clad supporters…all of these components coalesce to create an aesthetic masterpiece. But, among all the things making soccer so pleasing to the eye, none is more important or spectacular than the perfectly coiffed hair of your favorite or most-hated star player. With this concept in mind, and coupled with our reverence for a great head of hair, we here at THS have taken it upon ourselves to proffer what we feel is some of the finest follicle work in European soccer. Please enjoy this particular snack, it’s a juicy one.

Before we completely dive into the pomade, let’s have a quick word on the rules. The players highlighted below will no doubt have gone thru several iconic iterations of hairstyles, and we will pick what we feel are our favorite or most iconic looks for each athlete. As with any article of this type, opinions will be strong and disagreements will be had, but we’re doing our fucking best. So, read on, and if you’d like to rail against what we have to say, please voice your opinion in the comments section. With that being said, let’s get into the most beautiful aspect of the beautiful game…

Sergio Ramos:

This staunch center back brings the same strength to his hair that he does to the pitch, serving as captain for two of the most iconic club and international sides on the planet. We feel that Sergio does his best work while incorporating a beard to go along with a high fade and a textured, windswept topside. This look is clearly carefully planned, and it comes together wonderfully, but the hint of Messiness created by the beard and the texture up top perfectly match Ramos’s swashbuckling, marauding style of play. Not too careless, but not too careful either.

Gareth Bale:

I know what you’re thinking, no way can a ‘top-knot’ or ‘man-bun’ make a list of best haircuts, but THS doesn’t shy away from taking a controversial position, and Bale’s is a case of his playing and hairstyles matching up too perfectly to be omitted. Gareth Bale is a Welsh dragon with blazing speed, and there’s no better way to accentuate that speed than with some length flowing in the jet stream. The top-knot is risky, but fortune favors the bold, and it also evokes images of the Samurai, which is dope.

Paul Pogba:

Everything about Paul Pogba, from his imposing stature to his world-class skills, stands out dramatically, and his hair is no exception. He cements himself on this list because he’s consistently pushing the envelope with elaborate designs and crazy color schemes. There’s a faction of people in world football who’d like to see him conform to some of the game’s more rigid standards, but his hair simply won’t allow such a travesty to occur, and we’re just fine with that.

Olivier Giroud:

If Pogba’s crazy use of color and design symbolizes creativity that can barely be contained on the pitch, then Giroud’s high-fade pompadour represents the perfect precision required to finish a perfectly constructed set piece. Like Ramos, Giroud uses facial hair to compliment what he’s got going on up top, and the result is enough to give any goalkeeper the old chocolate wrists.

Granit Xhaka:

Xhaka’s comb-over fade is, in a word, precocious. It’s a tasty bit of skill and finesse that go nicely with the Swiss international’s game. Although he competes for Switzerland, he is of Albanian descent, and he honors that heritage with this playful hairstyle that may slightly vex the rigid neutrality of his home nation.

Neymar:

Some may cry foul at the Brazilian superstar’s inclusion on the register, but Neymar brings a unique element to the table, and we like his commitment to standing out in that regard. Of course, I’m taking about Neymar’s signature bangs as the element that almost nobody else incorporates into their hair game. The bangs truly stand out, and the extra flop in the front can only draw the referee’s attention for much needed free kicks.

Gianluigi Bufon:

In a group such as this one, overflowing with youthful exuberance and risk-taking tendencies, you need the steadying hand of veteran leadership. Bufon’s elegant and measured approach to his hair fits the bill perfectly to fill this role, and it’s the reason why he wears the captain’s armband for this squad.

Stephan El Shaarawy:

It’s because of guys like El Shaarawy that Bufon’s veteran presence is so desperately needed in this group. Nicknamed the Pharoah, partly because of his Egyptian heritage and partly because of his incredible hair, El Shaarawy’s dome brings a wildness that couldn’t, and shouldn’t, be tamed. As a general rule, The Pharoah incorporates mohawk elements into his look, but that is where the structure and rules end with him. His hair brings a beautiful chaos to the beautiful game.

Willian:

No list of great hair is complete without an afro, and the brilliant Brazilian’s is the best of the bunch in our not so humble opinion. The volume, the shape, and the proportion of Willian’s ‘fro are as exquisite as one of his set-piece wonder strikes into the top corner. If there’s one quibble we have with afros in general, it’s that they can tend to be a little top heavy, but Willian’s does not suffer from that affliction. His coif is perfectly rounded out in portabella-esque fashion, and is an invaluable addition to the squad.

David Luiz:

Shirley Temple ain’t got nuthin’ on David Luiz when it comes to curls, and his inclusion on the list is partially a result of his own magnificence, and partially an ode to the legendary Carles Puyol. Like Puyol’s, Luiz’s curls are truly a sight to behold when in full flight behind a daring and brilliant tackle. Simply put, you can’t win without the type of hair and attitude that Luiz and Puyol bring/brought to the table every match.

Cristiano Ronaldo:

Alas, in the only way it could be resolved, our starting XI is anchored by the incomparable CR7. Cristiano’s hair knows no bounds when it comes to versatility and execution, and he’s even been known to come out from the half with a different hairstyle than the one with which he started. Ronaldo understands the gravitas carried by his mane, as who could forget his well-conditioned tribute to a boy who had brain surgery during the 2014 World Cup? Whether it be for club or country, no man bears more responsibility for his side’s success than Ronaldo does, and when it comes to hair, the stakes are no different.