The Bearded XI of Football

People say facial hair defines a tough male and highlights his herculean character. However, football in particular has witnessed very few players sporting facial hair; fewer are the ones who have actually carried the style well. While we have witnessed some very stylish beards sported by the likes of Spurs’ Ricky Villa and United’s George Best, we have also seen Abel Xavier’s outrageous beard and mohawk combo. Nowadays, although footballers prefer a light stubble or clean-shaven face, there are still some who fashion a stylish beard and only few have been able to pull it off.

Here is our compilation of a playing XI of soccer players who fashioned the best facial hair last season:

GOALKEEPER

Iker Casillas

The finest goalkeeper in the world may have been unceremoniously dumped on the sidelines by Jose Mourinho, but undoubtedly he had a fine beard last season. It was well styled, with his thin beard hugging the cheekbones and a trimmed moustache to accompany the same. Unlike most other goalkeepers, like Ali-al Habsi (who is the only example I can think of ), it wasn’t an unkempt one and went well with his handsome looks.

DEFENDERS

Olof Mellberg

Talk of beards and the Swede, a former Aston Villa and current Villarreal player, sets the best example. Give him a horned helmet and you have a perfect Viking in front of you! The tall centre-back displayed his dense bearded look to the best effect in the Euro 2012 and still is one of the finest bearded players, both in class and looks.

Daniel Alves

His dense beard sans the moustache has made him a complete Flo-Rida look-alike. The athletic Barcelona defender had to feature in this list. This beard of his has added to his aggressive looks and playing style. He had a great campaign and we hope he does not shave off his beard this season.

Gerard Pique

Dani Alves’ teammate also made himself to the XI with his beard. He may have gone for weird hairdos and a bald look this season, making him look equally awful, but at the same time with his hair at its best the Catalan defender is undoubtedly one of the most handsome footballers.

MIDFIELDERS:

Xabi Alonso

After having arrived from Liverpool to join the Galacticos, the deep lying playmaker adopted his bearded look. He is perhaps the one with the best ginger beards anyone has ever sported. Not only does it add to the beauty of his lethal passes he sends upfield for Cristiano Ronaldo to devour, but also gives him his grim, killer look.

Daniele De Rossi

Our no-nonsense Italian is a decorative individual and fashion has always been his mantra. Besides being adorned with intricate tattoos, he also has a messy, dense beard. He reminds one of the super-villain Bluto of Popeye the Sailor man fame, and he surely lives up to it by wreaking havoc on attackers.

Andrea Pirlo

He is the leading exponent of the deep lying playmaker role. The beard goes well with his wavy hair and he certainly looks no less than an actor sporting such looks. Once when asked in an interview about his new bearded look, he said “It wasn’t bothering me in the summer so I let it grow. Now I don’t waste time shaving…”

Antonio Nocerino

Italians have once again scored a brace with this entry. The unheralded midfielder has sported a bearded look for long now and has one of the densest patches of facial hair in the Italian Serie A. Along with the other two, he has carried forward the traditional Italian beard culture, his being the one to envy!

ATTACKERS

Djibril Cisse

He has been famous not only for his notorious transfers and injuries but also for his peroxide-bleached hair, unusually chiseled beard and what not! He once reportedly said in an interview that he is a flamboyant follower of fashion. No wonder either!

David Villa

From ‘soul patches’ to light stubble, our lethal attacker has never really been without facial hair. He has been known for his combination of spiky hair, chin tuft and soul patch. He has set an example of how to have just the right amount of facial hair and still look clean.

Darren Bent

The Aston Villa striker has been the butt of all jokes for his unlucky knack of missing major tournaments due to injuries or selection dilemmas, while netting in loads for relegation-threatened sides to stay fit. His unique curly facial hair gives him a rapper-like feel.

Honorable Mention

David Beckham

No list has ever ended without his inclusion. Be it tattoos, hairstyles or outfits, he has set the glamour standards in the world of football. During his LA Galaxy years and lately at Paris Saint Germain, he sported a facial hair closely clipped to the face to great effect.