Emiliano Martinez will display the Argentina colours on the side of his head during the World Cup semi-final against England in Atlanta. The Aston Villa goalkeeper's bold hairstyle serves as a declaration of patriotism ahead of the highly anticipated clash between the defending champions and one of their oldest footballing rivals.
Style Evolution During the Tournament
Martinez has continuously adapted his look throughout the current competition. He initially opted to have his shirt number, 23, etched into the side of his hair, debuting that design during Argentina's opening group stage match against Algeria. As the tournament stakes grew higher in the knockout rounds, he returned to the full-colour flag representation.
Provoking French Supporters in Paris
His vibrant hairstyle is not reserved for international duties. Martinez deliberately used the same look as a provocation when facing Paris Saint-Germain during a tense Champions League quarter-final clash in April 2025. By arriving at the Parc des Princes with the striking blue-and-white flag freshly dyed into his head, he rattled the hostile French fans who still vividly remembered his penalty shootout heroics against their national team in 2022.
Origins at the 2022 World Cup
The trend traces its roots back to the last World Cup tournament hosted in Qatar. Martinez introduced the unconventional look to the wider footballing world during the crucial round of 16 victory against a resilient Australian side in December 2022, establishing a personal trademark that passionate supporters instantly adored.
A Dressing Room Bet
While fans initially assumed the eye-catching hairstyle was a carefully planned display of national pride, Martinez later revealed that it was actually the result of a light-hearted bet with his team-mates. He won a friendly wager involving close international team-mates Marcos Acuna, German Pezzella and Guido Rodriguez, which led the goalkeeper to dye his hair as a celebratory tribute. According to Martinez, the bet was made in jest but turned into a lasting tradition that has now become synonymous with his persona on the pitch.
