Lionel Messi’s Best Haircuts (And How You Can Pull Them Off)

Lionel Messi, the Argentinian football player, needs little introduction since he is known as one of the greatest football players in history. This isn’t surprising since Messi has helped his club win over two dozen tournaments and league titles during his career and even set a record for the most goals ever scored in a year back in 2012 - defeating the top record which hadn’t changed since 1972! And all of this was achieved while rocking some great hairstyles. 

What do these styles all have in common? They are short and practical enough to last a whole 90-minute football match and they all have that rugged, messy look. After all, it’s no good having a fussy hairdo when you have records to break.

Follow our step-by-step guide below to pull off two of the best of Messi’s looks.

Hairstyle 1: A Classic Taper & Side Brush

Credit: Shutterstock

This classical Lionel Messi hairstyle emerged in the 2018 World Cup which the player paired with a neat beard and honestly, it had his fans shook. In fact, it was so inspiring it led to one super-fan cutting Lionel Messi into his hair - Yes, you read that right! 

Messi is not one to follow trends and instead finds a style that compliments his features and doesn’t get in the way when playing on the pitch. But just because Lionel Messi isn’t one for trends doesn’t mean you shouldn’t hop on this one and get yourself this suave and simple Messi haircut. We recommend you start off with showing a picture to your barber of the look you’re trying to recreate. This way you are both on the same page when you ask for the Messi haircut. You’ll want the length on top to be roughly four or five inches with it getting gradually shorter towards the back of the head. Next you want a #2 from the base of the hairline up to the tip of the ears, including your sideburns. From the tip of the ears upwards taper the hair from a #3 to #4 until it blends in with the length at the top.

• To style this look you will want to start off with damp, towel dried hair. Use a small amount of our NO GUNK Matte Lava Clay and warm the products between the fingertips. This will help it apply through the hair easier. Then apply it to your hair from root to tip. Don’t go too overboard with the product as Messi tends to wear his hair more natural looking than most footballers.
• Next, grab your hairdryer and whilst on a medium heat blow the front of your hair back, using your fingers to shape the hair to your desired place. We recommend mussing up the front of the hair a little bit to give it that messy Messi look. 
• When the hair is dry and sitting where you want it, turn the setting on your hairdryer to cold and give your hair a quick blast to help it keep its hold.

Hairstyle 2: The Faux Hawk & Short Sides 

Credit: Instagram @leomessi 

This is one of Lionel Messi’s more modern looks. head to the barber to ask for a short faux hawk with short sides (ahem - the mohawks' more fashionable and mature looking older brother). Section the top hair off by combing it forward starting from the back to front. Then clipper cut the sides of the hair starting from a #2 from the base of the neck to the tip of the ears, including the sideburns, then moving onto a #3 from the tip of the ears till you reach the top hair. Make sure it is well blended. Return to the top and cut the hair till it’s all about two inches long adding in some texture cuts with the clipper. 

Now it’s time to style:

• Start with damp towel dried hair. Apply a small amount of our Matte Lava Clay and warm well between your fingertips before applying throughout the hair from root to tip.Make sure you apply the product evenly throughout the top of the hair. 
• Grab your hairdryer and set it to a medium heat. Use your fingers to style your hair and maneuver it into the direction you want the hair to stand. Spike the hair upwards and towards the centre of the head to create the illusion of a mohawk. The front of the hair needs to be spiked forward to a point just over the forehead.
• Once the style is sitting where you want it, turn the hair dryer to the cold setting and blast your hair to set it all in place. 

Walk with your head high knowing you look just as funky as one of the greatest footballers on this Earth.