This is where the story takes its most dramatic turn.
The story of Neymar’s 2016 hairstyles is not a tale of simple vanity. It is a chronicle of rebellion, cultural homage, on-pitch dominance, and the sheer, unapologetic joy of self-expression. It began in the dying embers of 2015 and exploded into a 12-month carnival of follicles. neymar hairstyle 2016
He wasn’t insane. He was ahead of the curve. This is where the story takes its most dramatic turn
On June 1st, 2016, Neymar posted a single photo on Instagram. He was in a barber’s chair in Los Angeles. His hair was wet. The caption: “Novo ano, nova vida, nova cor.” (New year, new life, new color). Then, he posted the reveal. It began in the dying embers of 2015
However, tragedy loomed. During the Copa América group stage match against Uruguay, Neymar was brilliant—his red hair a beacon in the sea of green and yellow. But then came the foul. A brutal tackle from behind. He crumpled. The diagnosis was swift and cruel: a fractured vertebra. His tournament was over. Brazil was eliminated. The red hair, once a symbol of fiery rebirth, now looked like a wound. As he flew back to Brazil for rehabilitation, he sat in first class, hoodie up, the red already fading to a dull pink. It was the color of a dying sunset.
The world took notice. Teenagers from Tokyo to Toronto started asking barbers for “the Neymar undercut.” However, this look had a tragic expiration date. In the Champions League quarter-final against Atlético Madrid, Barcelona crashed out. After the final whistle, Neymar sat on the turf, his man-bun sagging, his face buried in his hands. The warrior had fallen. By June, as Brazil prepared for the Copa América Centenario in the United States, Neymar knew he needed a transformation. He needed to shed the skin of failure.
To this day, when fans look back at 2016, they don’t just remember Neymar’s 20 league goals or his Olympic gold. They remember the journey of his hair. They remember logging onto Twitter after every international break, holding their breath, and asking the only question that mattered: “What did he do to it now?”