Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't just play football. He’s a walking, breathing billboard for global trends, and honestly, nothing he’s ever done with his feet caused quite as much of a digital meltdown as what he did with a pair of clippers in June 2017. One minute he's lifting the Champions League trophy in Cardiff with those signature blonde-streaked highlights, and the next, he’s posting a selfie on Instagram with a military-grade buzz cut.
It was jarring.
People were used to the meticulous grooming. We’re talking about a guy who reportedly had a waxwork of himself adjusted because the hair wasn't "up to date." So, when the ronaldo hair style 2017 shifted from a polished, product-heavy pompadour to a raw, DIY-looking crew cut, it wasn't just a grooming choice. It was a statement. He had just dismantled Juventus in the final, scoring twice, and basically decided he had nothing left to prove to anyone, including his barber.
The Cardiff Pre-Cut: The Blonde Highlights Era
Before the big shave, the 2016-2017 season was defined by what many fans call the "La Duodecima" look. It was classic CR7. The sides were faded tight—though not down to the skin—and the top was left long enough to have significant texture.
What made this specific version of the ronaldo hair style 2017 stand out was the color. He went for these heavy, almost "frosted" golden-blonde tips. It was a bit of a throwback to his early Manchester United days, but way more refined. He used a high-shine pomade to keep it in place during matches. Even after 90 minutes of sprinting, the structure barely budged. This look was peak vanity, and it worked because he was playing the best football of his life.
You see, Ronaldo’s hair has always been a barometer for his confidence. In early 2017, he was transitionary. He was moving from a pure winger to a lethal number nine. His hair reflected that—it was flashy, demanding attention, and perfectly styled for the cameras that follow him every second.
Why the highlights mattered
Most guys can't pull off blonde streaks without looking like they’re in a 90s boy band. Ronaldo made it work by keeping the base dark. It provided a contrast that popped under the stadium floodlights. If you look back at the photos from the 4-1 win over Juventus, that gold shimmer is visible in every celebration. It became a symbol of that specific trophy run.
The "Promise" That Led to the Buzz Cut
Then came the shock.
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Less than 24 hours after winning the Champions League, Ronaldo debuted a nearly bald head. No highlights. No product. No fringe. Just a #1 or #2 guard all the way around. The internet collectively gasped. Why would the most marketable face in sports chop off his most recognizable feature?
It wasn't a fashion choice. Not really.
He later told Real Madrid TV that it was a "promise." He had told himself that if he won the Champions League and scored a goal, he’d cut it all off himself. "I did it myself," he admitted. It was a sacrificial move. He’d reached the mountain top and celebrated by stripping away the vanity.
This is the part most people get wrong about the ronaldo hair style 2017. They think he was trying to start a trend. In reality, he was closing a chapter. It was a "mission accomplished" haircut.
Breaking Down the Technicals of the Shaved Look
If you’re trying to replicate that mid-2017 buzz, you have to be careful. It’s not as simple as just running a clipper over your head. Ronaldo’s bone structure—that heavy brow and sharp jawline—does a lot of the heavy lifting.
The 2017 buzz cut was a uniform length. Unlike a modern "buzz fade" where the sides are shorter than the top, Ronaldo went for an almost induction-style cut. It was aggressive. It made him look meaner on the pitch. It also highlighted his hairline, which, let’s be real, is freakishly perfect.
- The Length: It looked to be around 3mm to 6mm.
- The Line-up: Even with a buzz cut, his barber (the famous Miguel Siero) kept the edges crisp.
- The Maintenance: A cut this short shows growth in three days. To keep that "freshly shorn" look, he was likely hitting it with clippers twice a week.
Most fans hated it at first. Then, like everything he does, it grew on people. Literally. By the time the 2017-2018 season kicked off in August, the buzz had grown into a short, manageable crop, which became the baseline for his later years in Madrid.
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The Cultural Impact on Barbershops
Ask any barber who was working in 2017. They’ll tell you the "Ronaldo Effect" is a real thing. Usually, guys come in asking for the "side part with a hard line"—the look he wore for years. But that summer, the request shifted.
Suddenly, teenagers who had spent years obsessing over hair wax were asking for buzz cuts. It was a relief for parents, honestly. But it also showed the power of CR7’s brand. He could shave his head and make "minimalist" the new "extravagant."
He proved that the ronaldo hair style 2017 wasn't about the hair itself, but the head it was on. It was about the swagger. If you score two goals in a European final, you can wear a paper bag on your head and people will call it "avant-garde."
The "Hard Part" Misconception
A lot of people confuse his 2017 look with his 2014 or 2016 looks. In 2017, he actually moved away from the shaved hard part (the surgical line in the side). He opted for a more natural transition. If you're looking at a photo and see a deep, shaved line in the scalp, you're likely looking at 2014-era Ronaldo, not the 2017 version. The 2017 vibe was much more about texture and, eventually, that raw buzz.
Why We Are Still Talking About It
We’re obsessed because Ronaldo treats his appearance like an athlete treats their stats. Every detail is calculated. When he changed his hair in 2017, it signaled a shift in his career. He was getting older. He was becoming more of a "clutch" poacher rather than a flashy dribbler. The hair became more functional.
Less time in the mirror, more time in the box.
It’s also about the E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) of his personal brand. Ronaldo is an expert in self-presentation. When he chose that buzz cut, he was trusting his brand to survive without the "pretty boy" locks. And it did. His shirt sales didn't drop. His Instagram followers didn't leave. He proved he was bigger than a haircut.
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How to Get the 2017 Look Today
If you want to channel the ronaldo hair style 2017, you have two paths. You either go for the "Cardiff Finals" blonde texture or the "Post-Match" buzz.
The Textured Pompadour (Early 2017)
- Grow it out: You need at least 3 inches on top.
- The Fade: Ask for a mid-skin fade. Don't go too high, or you'll lose the shape of the head.
- The Color: This is the tricky part. Ask for "balayage" highlights. You don't want streaks starting at the root; you want the tips to look like they've been bleached by the Iberian sun.
- The Product: Use a high-hold, medium-shine clay. Rub it in your hands until it’s warm, then work it from back to front.
The Promise Buzz (Mid-2017)
- The Guard: Start with a #3. If it’s not short enough, drop to a #2.
- The Shape: Don't just buzz it yourself if you want it to look "celebrity" grade. A barber needs to shape the forehead line (the edge-up) to keep it from looking messy.
- The Beard: Ronaldo usually stays clean-shaven or with very light stubble. A heavy beard with this buzz cut changes the vibe from "elite athlete" to "lumberjack." Keep it tight.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think Ronaldo has a "signature" look. He doesn't. He has a signature evolution.
The ronaldo hair style 2017 was actually a bridge. It bridged the gap between his "Galactico" youth and his "Veteran Legend" status. By stripping away the styling, he forced people to look at his face, his expressions, and his performance.
It's also worth noting that his hair quality stayed incredibly thick during this period. While many players start to see thinning in their 30s, Ronaldo’s hair remained dense. This actually led him to invest in Insparya, a hair transplant clinic, later on. He knows the value of a good head of hair, which makes the 2017 shave even more of a "boss move." He had the hair, he just didn't need it.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Barber Visit
If you’re heading to the shop to try and capture a bit of that 2017 Madrid energy, don't just show a blurry photo.
- Be specific about the "Cardiff" highlights. Tell the stylist you want "frosted tips" but without the 90s tackiness—blended into a dark brown base.
- Check your head shape. If you have a very round face, the 2017 buzz cut might make you look like a tennis ball. Ask your barber if a "high and tight" might suit your bone structure better.
- Maintenance is key. Ronaldo’s hair looks good because it’s always fresh. If you’re going for the short 2017 crop, commit to a haircut every 10 to 14 days.
- Invest in the right tools. If you're doing the buzz cut at home to honor a "promise" like he did, use high-quality clippers with a ceramic blade to avoid skin irritation.
The ronaldo hair style 2017 wasn't just about fashion; it was about a moment in time when the best player in the world decided he was finished with the "pretty boy" labels. He shaved his head, won another Ballon d'Or, and kept winning. That’s the real lesson here: the haircut doesn't make the man, but the man can certainly make the haircut legendary.