The World Cup might be over, but like the Scottish fans who won the hearts of Boston, the game has left its mark on North America. The 2026 tournament will be remembered for a long time – and some of its most memorable moments happened above the ears.
From sharp fades to statement styles, every player’s haircut was in the spotlight, and behind every standout look was a barber trusted to get it right. BarberEVO went behind the scenes with the barbers keeping the world’s most famous players fresh for kick-off.
Here’s a snapshot of some of the barbers behind the World Cup’s biggest looks – but there’s plenty more where that came from. Pick up issue #52 of BarberEVO to read more.
David Marulanda (@authentic_barbers)
David went from cutting NYCFC players to styling at some of soccer’s biggest events. His career in soccer started in 2017, with clients like David Villa, Andrea Pirlo and Patrick Vieira, but before long those relationships opened the door to the international stage.
By 2022, David was working inside the USA’s World Cup camp in Qatar (with his own fully stocked barbershop) and had a client list that included the biggest names in the game.
He doesn’t just keep players looking camera ready. David uses hair as a canvas, having creating a red, white and blue look for Weston McKennie and designing Emiliano Martinez’s famous Argentina flag style alongside Dani Ale and Sebastian Morales.
Despite his high-profile client list and jet-setting career, David’s advice for barbers is not to chase fame: “Cutting celebrities will not make you rich. In fact, you make more money staying at the shop.”
JAYÈMA (@jayemabrand)
Based in London but travelling wherever her clients need her, JAYÈMA is a go-to hairstylists for elite athletes, working with players from top tier teams like Brazil, England, the US and Canada.
Among her highlights, JAYÈMA’s work for Promise David saw the Canadian international take to the pitch with a signature twist style, featuring red and white rubber bands to represent his country.
Over the tournament, JAYÈMA brought that creative vision to bear for stars like Raphinha, Marcus Rashford, Noni Madueke, Haji Wright and Miles Robinson.
Forget the glamour of working with soccer’s biggest names, for JAYÈMA, the job is about showing up, getting it right and being the person players rely on: “Trust, timing and discretion are extremely important. Hair is a big part of a player’s identity and confidence.”
Bryan Guardado (@nd.bryan)
Bryan’s route to the World Cup started with a DM. When FC Barcelona landed in Dallas, the mobile barber messaged the entire squad, and one player answered: Lamine Yamal.
That reply changed Bryan’s career. What began as a haircut grew into a trusted relationship, taking Bryan all the way to this year’s World Cup Final.
For the biggest game of his life, Yamal wanted a simple look – a taper through the sides and back, a trim on top and plenty of bulk around the sides. Bryan knew it needed to be flawless.
“I had to make sure my cut was different from the ones he had gotten before. If I did a good cut on him, I knew I would have the chance to cut more of them,” he said.
The experience has taught Bryan that the industry rewards those willing to take a risk: “Take that chance Be patient, love what you do and shoot your shot.”
Dany Ale (@dany_ale_32)
Talk about being under pressure – Dany Ale is the barber behind soccer legend Lionel Messi’s world-famous look.
After working with Argentina’s youth teams, Dany’s career went supersonic after Rodrigo De Paul sat in his chair, followed quickly by Messi himself. Now, he cuts inside Argentina’s national camp, which can see him doing as many as 15 cuts in a day.
When he’s trimming the likes of Messi, Dany knows millions will see his work, making any flaw fatal. Instead of losing his cool, experience helps him manage the pressure and concentrate on delivering his best for team and country.
“We all carry the same crest in our hearts. It is a great source of pride to see my national team reach a World Cup final.”
Christian Gonzalez (@cjdabarber)
CJ thought his World Cup moment had been made when he was booked to cut Portugal’s Diogo Dalot. But then, on his way out of the team’s hotel, his phone rang. It was Dalot, asking him to come back and cut Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I immediately turned back around,” CJ said. It wasn’t just a great opportunity, it was historic. CJ was cutting one of the most famous athletes on the planet ahead of one of his final World Cup games – a last appearance for a player whose has defined a generation of soccer.
Giving Ronaldo a seamless mid-drop fade with no C-cups, CJ blended out the disconnection with the top to create a smooth transition, exactly what the player asked for. For CJ, the cut can be summed up in one word: “Legendary.”
Yuri Alexandre Santos (@yuribarber_)
For Brazilian’s soccer is a religion, which makes Yuri Barber something close to a high-priest.
Working his way up from the streets of Santos to his own shop, Yuri built his reputation on hard work behind the chair and being ready to take on every style. His dedication has led him to cut at some of the biggest events on the planet, including the World Cup.
Over the tournament he cut for some of the most recognisable players in the game, like Neymar, Lucas Paquetá, Endrick and Bruno Guimarães, putting him in the spotlight of the media, supporters, sponsors.
From the outside, it can look glamorous — big players, major cities, iconic stadiums. But behind the scenes preparation, trust, and the ability to deliver under pressure are key.
“You are in a place where many want to be, so you need to give it your all.”
Alejandro Hernandez (@alexx_barberrrrr)
After cutting Mexican international Julian Araujo, word about Alejandro’s skills spread through the national team. One player became two, then three, and before long he was getting calls from the biggest names in Mexican football, like Edson Alvarez, Alexis Vega, Roberto “Piojo” Alvarado and Memo Ochoa.
Working with these elite athletes comes with challenges, and Alejandro works around packed schedules, often flying to training camps, hotels and global tournaments.
Being mobile is a huge part of Alejandro’s success. He travels with his tools in a backpack, a compact ring light, and a lightweight hunting chair. His BaBylissPRO and Tomb45 tools were chosen for one simple reason: battery life.
Working with the Mexican team at the World Cup has been the pinnacle of his career so far: “It took me 12 years to get where I’m at. When I started, I told myself I’d cut soccer players. Manifesting is so real.”
Saúl Peregrini (@saulperegrini)
Saúl is the talent behind one of football’s most talked-about looks. His precision cut for Ferran Torres was hailed by GQ as the haircut of the tournament, bringing sharp, modern style to the game’s biggest stage.
Torres then completed the story in unforgettable fashion, scoring the winning goal in the final while wearing Peregrini’s signature work. It was a perfect meeting of elite performance and impeccable grooming: a championship-defining moment that put both player and barber in the spotlight.
For Peregrini, the recognition confirms his place among the leading names shaping contemporary football style, on and off the pitch: “To know that, before that moment, he went through my hands and trusted me with his image is a pride that is hard to explain.”
Jordan Roberts (@jord_barbersno1)
An English barber cutting the Scotland squad at the World Cup might sound…unlikely, but in soccer reputation matters and Jordan has one of the best.
It started 11 years ago with Brazilian Roberto Firmino, when he was handed a flyer sitting in his car in Jordan’s home city Liverpool. He came in for a haircut, became a regular, and from there the word spread fast.
By the time Scotland needed a barber for the World Cup, his rep for consistency and professionalism had been built in dressing rooms around the country. He spent a riotous five days in Boston with the Scottish nationals, keeping them fresh for the biggest moment in their careers.
The same was true for Jordan: “Mind-opening and one of the greatest personal achievements of my career.”
Seb Kortez (@sebkortez)
Seb’s journey in international soccer began at Authentic Hair Studio, where NYCFC players were already regulars. Those connections eventually led Seb to cut for the US team at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he was approached by players from Ecuador, Costa Rica and Argentina.
Preparation begins before he travels. Seb studies each squad’s players and hairstyles, packing the equipment needed for cuts, designs and color services. Good lighting, precise machines and backup tools are essential, and for styling and finishing, he relies on Rolda products to achieve the best results.
Seb’s return to the global stage for the 2026 World Cup, saw him working with Argentina to create one of the tournament’s most memorable looks: Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez’s viral Argentina flag design.
“Watching a team lift a championship trophy after having contributed through my work will always be very special.”
Takushi aka Taxi (@takushi013)
When Japan stepped onto soccer’s biggest stage, it was a chance for Taxi to fulfill a dream.
The opportunity came through a personal recommendation when Tomoki Hayakawa introduced Taxi to Junnosuke Suzuki, giving him the chance to cut the defender’s hair before the World Cup. From there, Taxi’s personal connection has led him to work with Tomoki Hayakawa, Zion Suzuki and Kent Shiogai, as well as providing a trim for Yukinari Sugawara.
These were not haircuts designed to look good for only a few hours. The players would be training, traveling, competing and recovering, so each style needed to retain its shape without requiring a complicated routine.
BROSH products complemented his work, allowing him to bring an element of Japanese grooming to the experience while enhancing his designs without compromising natural movement.
Taxi knew the players he cut would arrive looking their best, and he viewed it as an opportunity to demonstrate the technical standard of Japan’s barbering community.
“Being able to make that dream come true as a barber is something I’m incredibly grateful for and deeply moved by.”
