To understand the significance of the 2017 look, one must first understand the context. Football had long shed its image as a working-class sport where vanity was frowned upon. By the mid-2010s, thanks in large part to the "Instagram generation," the footballer had become a full-fledged celebrity. Neymar was at the vanguard of this shift. His 2017 hairstyle, characterized by a radical bleach job and a distinctive middle section swept back into a faux-hawk, was the physical manifestation of this celebrity status. It was loud, high-maintenance, and unapologetically flashy—adjectives that could easily describe his playing style at the time.
During his high-profile transfer and debut for PSG, Neymar opted for a bold blonde mohawk or burst fade. The top was bleached a vibrant platinum or golden blonde, contrasting sharply with his naturally dark, tapered sides. neymar hairstyle 2017
However, the hairstyle was not without its critics. Traditionalists often pointed to his ever-changing hair as a sign of a lack of focus or an inflated ego. They argued that the hours spent in the salon were hours not spent on the training ground. Yet, this criticism largely missed the point. In the modern digital economy, an athlete’s marketability is tied to their recognizability. The blonde mohawk made Neymar instantly recognizable in silhouette, a crucial asset for sponsorship deals and brand building. It proved that the "distraction" of fashion was actually a savvy business strategy. To understand the significance of the 2017 look,
In 2017, Neymar’s most iconic hairstyle was the (often called the “platinum blond” look). Key details: Neymar was at the vanguard of this shift
Neymar’s 2017 hair journey was marked by three distinct phases: