Fashion Sense of Footballers: Then and Now

Aguero

There are two things in this world that are constant: change and death. Both of these are ever occurring and in most cases, both of these are feared and [tried to be] avoided the most. But no matter how hard one tries, these two constants can never be avoided.For now, we are going to avoid talking about the grim reaper. Instead, we will focus on the rotating wheel that is constantly in motion and never at one place.Change is nature. What we were 10 years ago is probably not what we are now. One of the thing that changes the most is fashion. What we wear and how we wear it keeps changing with the flow of the sands of time.Once upon a time, pants were worn as high as the navel region. Now, however, the buttocks are hidden courtesy of the shirt/t-shirt and not actually the pant. Most of the trends are started by celebrities. And, fortunately, or, unfortunately, footballers are celebrities and have a massive influence on the trends of the world.Here are ten footballers whose fashion tastes have changed – or not – over the years..

#1 Sergio Aguero

Aguero

We are going to maintain the alphabetical order and start with El Kun.

He, like almost every typical Argentine, burst into the scene with long and silky hair that looked super-cool when he ran at full speed and mazily dribbled past defenders.

Now that the hair is gone – and, strangely, with it, his playing style has also become more restrained – Aguero looks more mature and calm player on the pitch.

We have to admit that his ‘then and now’ is a classic reminder of how people in their teens and in their adulthood are like – from not having one care of the world to becoming responsible, and boring, because of the burden on the shoulders.

#2 Mario Balotelli

Balotelli

Pure gangsta.

Even though his ‘now’ picture is a little – okay, a lot – misleading given that he still roams around wearing street gangster hoodies and chains, it goes to show that anything in the world is possible if someone like Mario Balotelli decides to wear classy suits.

The ‘then’ image is what one would call a typical Balotelli pic – something that represents him best. People will remember the Liverpool forward more for his off-field antics and dressing style than him as a footballer.

And his outrageous dressing style coupled with his not-so-outrageous playing ability will make sure of that.

#3 David Beckham

This man is known more for the fashion than the football.

Whenever a guy is seen with a fauxhawk hairdo, most people – especially in Asia – go, ‘Beckham-style, eh?’ Such has been his influence in the world of style.

The former Manchester United winger has more hairstyles patented to his names than goals – he was, and probably still is – the icon of fashion.

In this pic, however, the ‘then’ portion tells us that anyone who is stylish today was not always like that from before. It is never too late, folks.

#4 Karim Benzema

Benz

Karim Benzema’s fashion sense was never the best. For a person like him, the worse that could happen play in the same team as Sergio Ramos. Unfortunately, that happened in 2009 and the ‘now’ is the direct result of that amalgamation.

From a wannabe cute young Frenchy in 2009 to a wannabe Bohemian, the former Lyon boy’s fashion sense has taken a bigger downside than M. Night Shyamalan’s directorial career.

Whether Real Madrid destroy playing careers remains an open debate. However, what isn’t an open debate is that the Blancos are either murderer of players’ fashion sense or massive enhancers of it – nothing in between.

#5 Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo

The Portuguese displays the other extreme of Real Madrid’s influence.

Where Karim Benzema is the victim of fashion debauchery, Cristiano Ronaldo is the image of classic trendsetting. Just look at the torso he is wearing in the ‘Then’ image – even the rainbow felt shy to come in front of it due to its vibrant mixture of colours.

The word on the torso remains the biggest oxymoron expression ever used on a t-shirt: CLASSIC. Cristiano Ronaldo has improved a lot as a player over the years due to the extreme diligence he exudes. Thank God that he transferred a bit of it to the dressing section of his brain.

#6 Zlatan Ibrahimovic

zlatan

The time difference between the then and now section of this picture isn’t much.

This is Zlatan. He scores awesome goals. He is charismatic. He ruthlessly bullies his team-mates. And his fashion sense changes faster than a chameleon.

Flexibility would be the right word to describe his styling. In the first picture, he looks not-Zlatan, to put it in a way the Swede would prefer and more like a street junkie who can be easily pushed over. However, in the second photo, he looks like the Zlatan we know – unique in a fashion that he will stand out. Very few people have the courage to pull off shorts with a suit.

But, hey #DareToZlatan right? He could make anything work. If he dressed like Sergio Ramos, it would end becoming a new trend – unlike when Ramos does it, who becomes the subject of serious mockery. (Part of it – actually, most of it – is because Ibrahimovic would smash the teeth of anyone who dared to mock him.)

#7 Lionel Messi

Leo Messi

Where did it go wrong?

La Masia a great institution. It has produced gems of footballers over the years and Lionel Messi was the shiniest pearl of it. He became one of the greatest players the world has ever seen, thanks to the facilities at the club.

However, Barca – Pep Guardiola, specifically – have certainly ruined his fashion sense. Ibrahimovic once famously said that Barca players obey Guardiola like school kids obey their teacher and it seems like Messi’s ordeal in terms of dressing is a direct result of that.

Who wears a polka-dotted suit in the most prestigious gala in football? Lionel Messi. He should not have been awarded the Ballon d’Or just for wearing that.

#8 Neymar

Neymar Jr

He hasn’t lost the cap.

The one thing you could easily deduce seeing the Brazilian is that he is a massive hip hop fan. He is the most genuine representation of today’s kids and he has kept true to his style even from 2010 till now.

There is only one change – and a minor one at that – in Neymar’s dressing style and it is the position of the cap. Earlier, he wore it in a reverse way, but now – like every Honey Singh fan – he fairs in the YO YO! way. Also, the chain seems to have hidden under the torso now.

#9 Sergio Ramos

ramos

God save the fashion world from the evil mind of Sergio Ramos.

The former Sevilla man is one of the very few players whose choice in clothes is indirectly proportional to the increase in wages. One would think that with more money and fame came more sense and responsibility.

But for Sergio Ramos, it only made him a sinner as he has committed numerous sins with his dressing combinations. These two pics were the least extreme images that could be found. (Warning, do NOT – repeat: do NOT – Google for his fashion sense. You can’t unsee them once seen.)

Every time you see someone dressed weirdly, know him for Sergio Ramos fan.

#10 Francesco Totti

The evergreen Francesco Totti.

The reader would wonder as to why he is in this list as there isn’t much change – but that is exactly why he is on this list, it truly represents him as a footballer.

Like 10 years ago, he is still scoring beautiful goals. Even though, of late, he hasn’t been that green, but he remains the best forward of his age group. The ‘now’ image has a jacket – another abstraction of how age makes you slightly more sensitive to cold.

And that is the only change he has displayed in the last decade.

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Edited by Staff Editor