Now bearded Messi goes blond

Lionel Messi is the latest superstar to adopt a new look taking the football world by storm, dyeing his hair peroxide blond.

The Barcelona man has joined the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Marouane Fellaini and James Rodriguez in going blond but this is not the first time the peroxide craze has taken over football.

In the France 1998 World Cup, Romania's entire national team opted for blond locks in the hope that it would bring them good luck. It didn't and they were dumped out by Croatia in the second round.

Messi will be hoping to make a clean start this season and his new look could be an attempt to put recent woes behind him.

The Barcelona striker announced his international retirement after Argentina lost the Copa America final against Chile and he was also recently handed a £1.7million fine for tax fraud.

The peroxide craze is now back in full force after almost two decades and shows no signs of slowing down as Europe's elite join the trend sweeping football.