24 years after Brazil’s title in the World Cup in Korea and Japan, Ronaldo Nazário once again spoke about one of the most memorable episodes of that tournament: the haircut he wore during the competition and which sparked a fashion among young people of the time.
In an interview with the French sports newspaper L’Equipethe former Brazilian forward addressed the topic with humor. “First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to all the parents for my hairstyle from 2002. I know that many parents had to put up with their children wanting that cut. I am very sorry for them,” he declared.
The origin of that look had a practical explanation. Ronaldo had a knee injury in the days before the semi-final against Türkiye and did not want the media to talk about it. “So I got the haircut. I saw my teammates and asked them, ‘Do you like it?’ They said, ‘No, it’s horrible!'” he said. “But the journalists saw my haircut and forgot about the injury.”
The strategy worked on and off the field. The next day, Ronaldo scored the goal that qualified Brazil for the final, where he scored twice against Germany to give Verdeamarela its fifth world title.
The hairstyle, however, transcended the sporty. The image of the bangs on the shaved head became a visual symbol of the tournament and was reproduced by children in different parts of the world, something that Ronaldo himself recognizes as a consequence that he did not anticipate.
On repeated occasions, Ronaldo has mentioned that he regrets that cut; However, he achieved his goal of diverting attention from his injury and allowed him to play the games without media pressure.
About the World Cup figures
Beyond the anecdote, the interview with L’Equipe led to the present of football. When asked about Kylian Mbappé, the former forward did not hesitate to draw a direct line between the French forward and his own career. According to the newspaper BrandRonaldo stated that “Mbappé’s style of play reminds me of myself at my best. He is one of the best in football today and a natural heir to the legends of this sport.”
Regarding Lionel Messi, the Brazilian was equally forceful. According to Infobaewhich quotes statements from the same interview, Ronaldo described him as “one of the greatest players in history” who “remains an influential and decisive figure to this day.”
Support for Neymar and confidence in the Brazilian team
One of the most commented passages of the interview was his position on Neymar’s call to the Brazilian team for the 2026 World Cup.
Ronaldo was in favor of his inclusion and argued: “Neymar is decisive. I don’t see another player in the current group with the same ability as him to win a game. So, if we could count on him, we shouldn’t miss the opportunity. He was medically cleared, he is in good shape and now he has the opportunity to silence all those who did not believe in him.”
The former player also referred to the coach of the Brazilian team, Carlo Ancelotti, with whom he said he fully identified. According to BrandRonaldo stated that he has “tremendous confidence in Ancelotti’s work and his ability to calm the atmosphere and get the best out of his players. He understands football like few others and knows how to handle pressure.”
As for the tournament favorites, he noted that France, Spain and Argentina “play excellent football and are very competitive,” while Germany “is always dangerous” as a possible obstacle on Brazil’s path to its sixth world title.