A sudden wave of blonde transformations has taken over FC Barcelona, leaving fans amused and curious. The trend, jokingly dubbed the “blonde hair pandemic” by Polish outlet Pudelek, began with Gavi, followed by striker Robert Lewandowski and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
Lewandowski proudly flaunted his bleach-blonde hair on Instagram, captioning, “New season, new hair, same goals.” Szczesny added his own humorous twist, posting a selfie and writing, “We’ve all made mistakes,” tagging Gavi, Lewandowski, and Lamine Yamal — the 17-year-old prodigy widely suspected to have started the trend.
Yamal had first debuted his platinum-blonde look during the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid on April 29. Responding cheekily to Szczesny’s posts, Yamal quipped, “Top 2 after me, not bad,” playfully asserting his fashion dominance.
The hair color spree has fueled speculation among fans. Some theorize it was a coordinated Instagram trend to celebrate Yamal’s upcoming 18th birthday on July 13. Others saw it as a light-hearted gesture of team solidarity amid a wave of off-field controversies surrounding the young star.
Szczesny, who soon dyed his hair back to black due to his wife’s disapproval — and then shaved it off entirely — became the center of attention with his comic take. Yet his words, “We’ve all made mistakes,” have stirred mixed interpretations. Some fans view it as a subtle jab at the choice of hairstyle, while others believe it was a show of support for Yamal.
Yamal has been in the spotlight lately not only for his football skills but also for his personal life. Reports of lavish vacations, high-profile parties, and rumored relationships — including one with a woman 12 years his senior — have sparked debate.
Despite the scrutiny, Szczesny publicly defended the teen star during an interview with Foot Truck, drawing parallels to Neymar: “If Neymar had a different attitude toward football and life, he wouldn’t be Neymar. Yamal is the same. He has personality, and that’s what makes him special. These players shouldn’t be overly restrained. Their innocence is what fans love.”
As Yamal approaches adulthood, the support from teammates and his distinct charisma continue to draw both admiration and controversy — proving once again that he’s not just a rising talent on the pitch, but a magnetic force off it as well.