Kylian Mbappé haircut: A portrait of influence, evolution, and style

There was an air of inevitability about Kylian Mbappé moving from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid. The forward has previously referred to Los Blancos’ all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo as his “idol,” while three-time Champions League winning manager Zinedine Zidane was his first footballing hero, to the point where he copied his balding compatriot’s “haircut”. Mbappé “spent hours watching Cristiano Ronaldo.”

Back in 2020, Mbappé posted two photos of him and Ronaldo on Instagram during France’s match against Portugal, along with the caption “idol”. Although by that point, his admiration for the former Manchester United man was already common knowledge for many. In an interview with France Football in 2016, Mbappé's father Wilfried had revealed his son “was a Real Madrid fan” and “used to spend hours watching videos of Ronaldo.” Snaps of a 14-year-old Mbappé posing in his bedroom, the walls covered with posters of the Portugal captain, have since emerged on social media, as well as one of the pair together at Real Madrid’s training complex in December 2012, around the time of his 14th birthday.

“If you’re a boy and you’re French, your idol is Zidane.” But before Ronaldo, Zidane was Mbappé's number one. “If you’re a boy and you’re French, your idol is Zidane,” the attacker has previously stated. That said, arguably Zidane’s greatest moment, scoring twice in the 1998 World Cup final, happened five months before Mbappé was even born.

In any case, it turns out he was not just a fan of Zizou’s unique elegance, incredible vision and impeccable technique, but also of his hairstyle…even though he was going bald. Zinedine Zidane and Kylian Mbappé tussle to get the ball in a Champions League game between Real Madrid and PSG. JAVIER SORIANO

Mbappé “mad” for copying balding Zidane’s haircut. In an interview with French broadcaster Canal + in 2017, Mbappé explained his fashion choice: “At that time, I was in my own world a little bit. That made me want to have the same haircut as him. Because when you like a player, you want to do everything the same as him. Rel explaining: “Even though children hate spinach, if he eats spinach, you eat spinach anyway. I wanted to do everything and I didn’t know he was going bald, so I asked the hairdresser to cut a round bit of our my hair. He thought I was mad.”

We’ve never seen Mbappé with longer locks, and it seems as if Zidane is part of the reason why. Kylian Mbappe may not have brought the World Cup trophy home to France but he certainly won hearts. Image Credit: Getty His signature hairstyle was with him throughout the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. Image Credit: Getty

In fact, it’s with Mbappé even when he steps off the football field. Video Credit: Getty Kylian's short hairstyle is always groomed to perfection. Image Credit: Getty It features a soft fade across the sides of the head. The razor sharp cut across the front of his forehead is always present. Kylian Mbappé's signature short hairstyle is with him on the red carpet. Image Credit: Getty As well as when Mbappé is stepping out in his street wear best. Image Credit: Getty For More Stories like this check out: swirlster.ndtv.com/beauty

Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappé is not afraid to try new looks with his hair. In 2017, Mbappé went blonde ahead of his move to PSG. This time around, Mbappé is trying a completely different look ahead of PSG’s fixture against Lorient. The PSG star has decided to sport blue hair, which will certainly surprise many who will tune into the team’s league contest against Lorient. OneFootball Videos

World football stars are always known for sporting creative hairstyles. Just earlier this year, Neymar decided to go with pink hair ahead of PSG’s Champions League knockout stage run in February. Many of Mbappé’s other PSG teammates have also gone with completely new hairstyles as well. And expect Mbappé to come up with new hairstyles in the future as well. Maybe he joins Neymar in sporting a pink haircut in the near future?

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Influence of Zidane and Ronaldo on Mbappé’s hairstyle choices

The link between Mbappé’s hairstyle and his idols runs deeper than mere aesthetics. Mbappé has repeatedly cited Zidane as a formative influence, describing the French icon as a model of elegance, vision, and technique. This affinity extended to style, where Mbappé embraced Zidane’s balding-inspired look early on, even when he himself was just starting to balance youth with a professional career. Transitioning from a youthful, exuberant fringe to a more mature, cropped silhouette mirrors Mbappé’s development on and off the field.

Ronaldo’s role as an idol came later, shaping Mbappé’s appreciation for star power and media presence. The parallel between Ronaldo’s marketability and Mbappé’s own brand growth is evident in how he has curated his image, including hair choices that punctuate his public appearances. The juxtaposition of Zidane’s classic elegance and Ronaldo’s athletic magnetism provides a palette from which Mbappé has drawn not only technique but also presentation.

Signature look and on-field consistency

Mbappé’s signature short hairstyle is characterized by a soft fade on the sides and a sharp line across the forehead, creating a clean, modern silhouette that remains instantly recognizable. The cut has accompanied him through World Cup campaigns and high-profile club matches, reinforcing his identity as a contemporary football icon who blends performance with personal branding.

AsMbappé’s career continues to unfold, his hair choices have become a subtle barometer of his evolving persona-balancing youthful audacity with the poised maturity expected of a world-class forward. The hairstyle is not merely fashion; it is part of Mbappé’s broader narrative about ambition, influence, and the attainment of footballing greatness.

In summary, Mbappé’s haircut history is a tapestry of influences from Zidane’s elegant balding to Ronaldo’s star power. It reflects a player who honors his past while shaping his own future, using hairstyle as a quiet but telling element of his evolving identity on and off the pitch.

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