Erling Haaland, the 26-year-old striker for Manchester City, has created a buzz among fans by opting for a dramatic change in hairstyle. The Norwegian football star decided to cut his long hair, which had become a trademark look, to a much shorter style just before the start of the new Premier League season.

On August 23, Haaland shared a video on Instagram revealing his new haircut with the caption, "New season, new cut." The post quickly went viral, attracting approximately 20 million views and tens of thousands of comments within just a few hours. Following this, he posted a series of images from the barbershop, which received over three million likes.

Fans took to social media to express their reactions, with many accounts sharing images of Haaland that garnered thousands to millions of views. His new hairstyle has been met with a mix of admiration and nostalgia, as some fans reminisced about the long ponytail that had become synonymous with his image over the years.

In a YouTube video, Haaland mentioned that he had planned to cut his hair after the World Cup but was too busy. He even video-called several acquaintances, including Oasis singer Noel Gallagher, former Swedish national team player Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and his Manchester City teammate Jack Grealish, to show off his new look. Grealish humorously remarked that Haaland looked like he was ten years younger.

While many fans praised the new haircut, some expressed regret over losing the iconic long hair that had characterized Haaland's appearance since his days at Borussia Dortmund. According to reports, Haaland made the haircut change before his team's opening match of the Premier League against Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium on August 23.

Haaland's hairstyle journey has seen various transformations. He sported a short haircut during his time at Molde in Norway from 2017 to 2019, but began to grow it out after joining Borussia Dortmund in 2020. Since moving to Manchester City in 2022, he had been known for his shoulder-length hair, which he maintained based on advice from Ibrahimovic, who had previously encouraged him to keep his long locks for strength.

In terms of hair care, Haaland prefers a minimalist approach, focusing on keeping his hair healthy and shiny. He often ties it back during training to minimize friction and breakage, and rarely dyes or chemically treats it. When playing, he typically styles his hair in a ponytail, which has been dubbed "The Erling Knot" by GQ magazine.

Born in 2000 in England to Norwegian roots, Erling Haaland is currently one of the world's top strikers, holding numerous records including being the all-time leading scorer for the Norwegian national team, UEFA's Player of the Year 2023, and the record for most goals in a single Premier League season. He made headlines during the recent World Cup, scoring seven goals in six matches and helping Norway reach the quarter-finals for the first time.