Some football stars share skills or playing styles on the field, but there is a group of them who had an additional common denominator, which is baldness.
The birthday of former Sampdoria and Juventus player Attilio Lombardo sparked an interesting ranking of the best or most famous bald players in the history of world football.
Top 11 Bald Players in Football History:
Goalkeeper Marco Ballotta
Veteran Marco Ballotta, who won the Italian league with Lazio and the European Cup Winners' Cup with Lazio and Parma, holds the record for the oldest player to participate in an Italian league match, but there is a more famous bald goalkeeper than him: Fabien Barthez, who won the World Cup with France in 1998.
Right-back Maicon
Right-back Maicon Douglas Sisenando is considered one of the greatest players in history.
His name is due to a mistake by a civil registry office employee (his parents wanted to name him Michael Douglas), and his fame is due to his runs on the right wing, which is considered his stronghold.
He was Brazilian coach José Mourinho's favorite during Inter Milan's treble-winning year (2010).
Left-back Alex
Brazilian left-back Alex Rodrigo Dias da Costa, known as Alex, played for Santos, PSV Eindhoven, and Chelsea.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti held him in high regard, saying, "He is fast in short distances and incredibly strong in aerial balls." Milan was a milestone in his career, and Paris Saint-Germain wanted to sign him.
Central Midfielder Yaya Touré
The peak of Ivorian Yaya Touré's brilliance was three years at Barcelona (2007-2010) and eight years at Manchester City (2010-2018), whom he is considered the best central midfielder of his era.
Competing with him for this position are Esteban Cambiasso, nicknamed "El Cuchu" after an Argentine cartoon character, and also the best striker in the Italian league for a time, Radja Nainggolan, nicknamed "The Ninja."
Center-back Odovic (Nini)
Giovanni Odovic, known as Nini, wore only one shirt with Novara for 19 years, playing 517 matches in the second and third divisions, without ever making his first appearance in the top division.
Defender: Stam
Jaap Stam, the Dutch player who played for Milan and Lazio, intimidated his opponents with his presence, bulging muscles, and even his sharp looks. He is an unbeatable legend and a real robot without a single hair.
Midfielder Attilio Lombardo
Khaberni says Attilio Lombardo started losing his hair at the age of 18, like his father.
At Italian club Cremonese, he was called "Bompita" (the shooter), and when he moved to Sampdoria, his nickname became "Popeye" and in Lazio, it became "Pilato Serio" (the team's shepherd), and finally, during his time in England, everyone called him "the Bald Eagle."
Midfielder Andrés Iniesta
Andrés Iniesta the amazing, who is nicknamed "the Painter," represented the clarity of thought in Barcelona and Spain. He reached his career peak when he scored the most valuable goal in "La Roja's" history, which gave Spain its first World Cup in Johannesburg against the Netherlands (1-0 after extra time).
His substitute is the Argentine Juan Sebastián Verón, who played in Italy with Sampdoria, Parma, Lazio, and Inter, a midfielder who combines modernity and tradition, possessing varied skills.
Striker Ronaldo Nazario
Ronaldo Nazario, the outright striker, is a unique phenomenon known for his skills, beautiful dribbling, and also a striking hairstyle.
His substitutes include Simone Zaza, nicknamed "Mr. Clean" by his peers, and Oscar Alberto Derticia, the Argentine known as "El Tiburón," who played for Fiorentina in the 1989-1990 season, then began losing his hair due to stress, to the point that in Spain they called him "Mr. Elegant."
Attacking Midfielder Zinedine Zidane
Zidane embodied the magic of football in his play. Yet there are still distinguished alternatives such as the Brazilian Rivaldo, a Golden Ball winner in 1999 with his extraordinary left foot, or Sebastián Giovinco, known as "the Atomic Ant."
Striker Gianluca Vialli
Gianluca Vialli is unforgettable, with his initially curly hair in his early career (with Cremonese), and his hair during the peak of his brilliance with Sampdoria, and his shaved head when he moved to Juventus. His substitute is Dutchman Arjen Robben, known for his exceptional left foot, or Massimo Maccarone, "Big Mac."
