ALBAWABA — Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has stunned football fans after ditching his signature long blond hair for a dramatically shorter haircut ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The 26-year-old Norwegian star revealed his new look on social media Sunday, sharing photos and a video documenting the moment he cut off the hairstyle that had become a defining part of his “Viking” image.
“New season, new haircut,” Haaland wrote alongside the post.
Fans Stunned by Haaland’s New Look
For years, Haaland’s long blond hair and trademark ponytail had been almost as recognizable as his powerful physique and prolific goalscoring.
The look attracted even more attention during Norway’s run to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, with supporters wearing Haaland-inspired wigs and recreating his Viking-style appearance.
His unexpected transformation quickly went viral, attracting hundreds of thousands of reactions.
Real Madrid midfielder and former Borussia Dortmund teammate Jude Bellingham was among those left surprised, responding to Haaland’s post with: “No way.”
Haaland later joined in on the jokes, posting: “Short hair, don’t care.”
Haaland Breaks Zlatan’s "Golden Rule"
The decision also means Haaland has gone against advice previously given to him by Swedish football legend Zlatan Ibrahimović.
Haaland had earlier revealed that Zlatan told him never to cut his hair because “the power is in the hair.”
The Manchester City striker had even dismissed the possibility of getting a shorter haircut before the World Cup.
Now, with a new season approaching, Haaland has finally abandoned his famous Viking look — and his transformation has become an instant social media talking point.
