Ronaldo Apologizes for His Peculiar Hairstyle at the 2002 World Cup

The "Phenomenon" recalled with humor and regret the extravagant haircut he sported in the 2002 final.

The final and the haircut

More than two decades have passed since Brazil won the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, but there is still an image that continues to bring smiles and spark debate: Ronaldo's peculiar hairstyle in that final against Germany. His head was almost completely shaved, except for a semicircular fringe on his forehead. The "Phenomenon" wore it with pride in Yokohama, while scoring two goals that sealed the 2-0 win and the fifth championship for the Seleção

Regret over the haircut

In a recent interview with L'Equipe, Ronaldo confessed that the look was a mistake that he now regrets. “First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to all parents for my hairstyle in 2002. A lot of kids copied it, and I know it was hard for them,” he joked. The striker explained that at that time he was suffering from an irreversible knee injury and was looking for any means to divert media attention from his physical condition. “Only immense physical and mental preparation could get me where I wanted to be,” he recalled.

Ronaldo on the 2026 World Cup

Beyond the anecdote, Ronaldo also spoke about the present of world soccer. He pointed out that teams like France, Spain, and Argentina "play excellent soccer and are very competitive," while Germany "is always dangerous." For him, they are Brazil's biggest rivals in the fight for the title.

The former striker took the opportunity to praise players who are defining an era. “Messi is one of the best players in history and remains a key player to this day. Mbappé, on the other hand, reminds me of myself at the peak of my career. He is a natural heir to the legends of the sport," he said.