Weird stuff footballers wear
When defender Gabriel Costa Franca recently wore a club-branded swimming cap during a Brasilerao match, he added his name to the growing list of strange things footballers have worn on the pitch.
Branded club swimming cap
We get that it rains, heavily at times, in Brazil. But to wear an actual swimming cap during a football match is perhaps taking things too far. It's hard to work out exactly what the rubbery bonnet pulled tightly over the skull of Atletico Mineiro defender Gabriel Costa Franca was in the recent match against Coritiba, but its resemblance to something more suited to a lap pool was worthy of a place on our list.
Snood
Want to keep your neck warm during a match but could do without the logistical awkwardness posed by a tasseled scarf? Why not follow the lead of Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez and get yourself a snood. Part scarf, part dog collar, this nape-wrapping raiment is perfect for the transitional months. Perfect that is, had it not been banned in 2011, depriving a cluster of Arsenal and Manchester City players of one of their favourite fashion accessories.
Face mask
Advancements in embarrassing accoutrements mean that nowadays, a pesky facial fracture needn't keep a good man down. It may just result in the donning of a ridiculous mask for a few months. Take, for example, Robert Lewandowski, who 'leathered up' after fracturing his cheek in the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid two seasons ago.
Chelsea captain John Terry opted for an equally embarrassing clear version some years back.
But not as bad as this behemoth worn by Emmanuel Pogatetz.
Then there's this effort from Paul Gascoigne, channelling misunderstood fictional theatre magician the Phantom of the Opera.
Water polo cap
Far be it from us to cast judgement on the likes of Petr Cech, Christian Chivu and Socceroos midfielder Matt McKay, who, at various times in their career have donned rugby-style headgear after receiving head injuries. But this peculiar effort from Croatian defender Vedran Corluka during UEFA EURO 2016 bears closer scrutiny.
After copping a head knock in his team's opening match against Turkey, our man donned the waterpolo gear. The internet, naturally, responded, but Corluka fronted up for the next match against Spain in the same livery. That is, until halftime, when he logged onto Twitter, presumably saw all the ridicule he was receiving, then promptly abandoned the absurd pillbox.
Padded headband
Wanting to look a bit cooler than the likes of Cech and Corluka, Wayne Rooney squeezed his melon into a thick, padded headband-type piece of apparel after sustaining a gash on his forehead during a training session in 2013.
The cranial cap didn't last long as Rooney abandoned the headwear after a couple of weeks. His form followed not long afterwards.
Funky knee tape
Tottenham prodigy Dele Alli grabbed the attention of the Twitteratiwhen he taped up his knee with what looked like strips of cave art during a match against Everton earlier in the year. while some of the other luminaries on this list courted ridicule for their crimes against common sense, opinion seems divided on the Alli's dynamic tape.
DIY Short Sleeves
Look again. Manuel Flamini has actually crafted his own short-sleeved Arsenal jersey, by cutting the long-sleeved version with a pair of scissors. The midfielder had reportedly fallen out with the kit man before going 'backyard haberdashery' on his top ahead of a UEFA Champions League clash against Marseille in 2013. Suffice to say, Gunners manager Arsene Wenger was not happy about it.
Goggles
Legendary Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids made wearing goggles on a pitch cool - a necessary requirement due to his eye condition glaucoma. The stylish playmaker was listed in Pele's 2004 compilation of his 100 best active players.
