The flawlessly coiffed Juventus midfielder is frequently the subject of criticism from commentators and fans for his personal style choice.
Is there a correlation between the way a football player styles his hair and the way he plays the game?
This may sound like a silly topic to ask, but it has become a prevalent thread in the conversation around current football, and Paul Pogba is one of the few players that provokes such argument more than the others.
Ever since the former Manchester United midfielder made his comeback to the Premier League, the ever-changing style of his hair has been a common topic of conversation among analysts and fans, particularly during periods in which he falls short of the standards that have been set for him.
Whenever these situations arise, there is no avoiding the inevitable raising of eyebrows, with television studio talks sounding like something out of Paris Fashion Week, while resident psychologist Graeme Souness challenges the mҽntal state of the Frenchman.
If a hairstyle is a component that contributes to a poor performance, then the natural conclusion is that a hairstyle – or in certain cases, the absence of a hairstyle – can also be the reason for a high performance, isn’t that correct?
This is the assessment Manchester United veteran Eric Cantona, a man who is no stranger to the ideas of existentialism, made in connection to Paul Pogba’s progress under new manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Cantona is a man who is no stranger to the precepts of existentialism.
Cantona stated in February that Pogba has not altered his hairstyle “since Ole has arrived.” Cantona made this statement about Pogba. “Maybe he was able to explain to Pogba that the most important thing is to play football,”
Pogba is not the only player whose appearance has been criticized in this manner; it has happened before. In particular, the hairdos of David Beckham and Ronaldo Nazario were subjected to scrutiny, and Lionel Messi’s decision to shave his beard in 2018 caused some fans to express and disbelief. These fans were concerned that Messi’s decision would lead to a decline in performance comparable to that of Samson.
Then why is everyone getting so worked up over this? This week on Goal, we take a look at some of Paul Pogba’s most eye-catching hairdos and find out where he gets his hair trimmed. Pogba utilizes his hair as a canvas to sometimes project specific ideas or images that signify something to him. In one sense, Pogba’s hair is literally an extension of himself, and in another sense, he uses it as an extension of himself.
It is interesting to note that the France international showed up for United’s Premier League game against Crystal Palace with a freshly coiffed do. This came after Cantona made the statement that he hadn’t changed his hair during Solskjaer’s stint as manager of the club.
The longer, natural style he had previously worn was replaced by a closely shaved and faded blonde look, similar to the style he had when he first arrived back at the club. To the relief of Red Devils fans everywhere, it didn’t seem to affect his performance as he provided an assist for Ashley Young in the 3-1 victory. The new blonde cut was described as being “nearly as eye-catching as one of his long-range passes” in a statement made by the Daily Mail. Almost.
When Pogba was playing in Italy for Juventus, he debuted some of his most outrageous hairstyles. This is maybe not too sᴜrprising given that he was a bit younger and possibly not worn down by the onslaught of criticism he has had to undergo in England.
The majority of the hairstyles worn by Frenchmen in Italy were variations on the mohawk, and they typically included a few highlights of blonde hair somewhere in the mix of their appearance.
During that time, he was known for having the word “dab,” which was a reference to his well-known celebration, carved into his hair. Also, before he left Turin, he appeared with an elaborate leopard-skin style.
Although Pogba continues to experiment with his appearance on a daily basis in England, the modifications to his look have become noticeably more understated. For example, instead of having distinct patterns on the sides of his head, he now has a dollop of blonde added someplace else.
The midfielder has been forced to contend with the strain of being one of the most expensive footballers in the world, and as a result, his hairdos at Manchester United have been considerably more modest on the whole. In addition, he has been one of the most expensive footballers in the world.
One illustration of a nuanced adjustment was when, in the wake of France’s win at the World Cup, he fashioned two gold stars at the beginning of the 2018-19 season. It was a declaration to the entire world that he had achieved the title of world champion, much like the stars that are sewn onto the jerseys of national teams.
Pogba clearly gives a great deal of consideration to the way he wants his hair to look, which is understandable given the wide variety of hairstyles that have come and gone over the years.
Nonetheless, there are undeniably some motifs that keep appearing, such as imitations of startling animal skins, lightning bolts, and the color blonde.
