If Covid-enforced lockdown has taught us one thing, it’s that hairdressers and barbers are a vital service. Cutting hair is a skill and, often, an artform.
Which makes us wonder why, sometimes, well-paid footballers manage to end up with haircuts that would shame a ginger US president with daddy issues.
Thus, on the back our ongoing series of Twitter polls, we bring you the World Cup of Bad Footballer Haircuts.
Here’s the format we chose.
9.30am will see the start of the #WorldCupOfBadFootballerHaircuts – determined by Twitter polls.
16 runners, 4 groups of 4. Winner of each into the final. Outright winner announced at 4.30pm!
Predict who wins, include the hashtag, and you could win one of three £25 free bets! pic.twitter.com/Q6GyjorZkZ
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) April 29, 2020
We’re sure you’ll agree there are some strong, strong entries (and presumably some very drunk barbers) in there.
Here’s how Group A panned out:
Group A of the #WorldCupOfBadFootballerHaircuts!
– Giovanni Simeone
– David Beckham (dreads)
– Taribo West (braids)
– Carlos Valderrama (needs no description)Winner goes into the final. Poll open for one hour, vote now!
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) April 29, 2020
Honestly, what on earth was Giovanni Simeone smoking when he came up with that one?
“How’s that for you, mate?”
“Yeah, love it, thanks.”
Mad b*stard.
Meanwhile, Group B featured a compatriot of Simeone.
Group B of the #WorldCupOfBadFootballerHaircuts:
– Rodrigo Palacio (rat tail)
– Romania (1998 WC Squad)
– Gervinho (2012)
– Franck Ribery (A grown man shaving 7 into the side of his head)Pics coming in reply. Poll is open for one hour, vote now!
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) April 29, 2020
Bit surprised Palacio was beaten there, but you have to respect the strength of Gervinho’s entry. Although surely that one’s more about the forehead than the hair above?
Group C was a cake walk:
Group C of the #WorldCupOfBadFootballerHaircuts!
– Ronaldo (2002)
– Abel Xavier (2008)
– Chris Waddle (1980s)
– David Seaman (ponytail)Poll open for one hour. Photos coming in reply to this tweet. Vote now!
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) April 29, 2020
Regulation win for big Ronaldo, there.
On to Group D and there was another clear winner.
Group D poll in the #WorldCupOfBadFootballerHaircuts
– Jason Lee
– Joe Cole (red strip)
– Roberto Baggio (1994)
– Marouane FellainiPhotos coming in reply to this tweet. Poll is open for one hour, vote now!
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) April 29, 2020
A powerful showing from Joe Cole there, putting him into what looked like being a seriously competitive final:
Ladies and Gentlemen – the finalists for the #WorldCupOfBadFootballerHaircuts
– Ronaldo (2002)
– Giovanni Simeone (Look at it)
– Joe Cole (red strip)
– Gervinho (2012)Poll will be posted at 3.30pm! pic.twitter.com/fKiidt9TyE
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) April 29, 2020
That’s not how it turned out, however. To be frank, Simeone was just too good for the rest. A genuine barnet for the ages, that one.
Son of Cholo, we salute you.
Find a full range of odds across all sports over on paddypower.comThe FINAL of the #WorldCupOfBadFootballerHaircuts!
– Ronaldo (2002)
– Giovanni Simeone (Look at it)
– Joe Cole (red strip)
– Gervinho (2012)Pics will be posted in reply to this tweet immediately. Poll is open for one hour. Vote now!
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) April 29, 2020