A football legend has stunned the world as he now looks unrecognisable after ditching his iconic hair and leaving fans saying 'this must be AI'

A football legend has stunned fans by shaving off his famous golden afro after more than three decades. The player in question's iconic hairstyle is synonymous with the 1990 World Cup - but you might not even recognise him now.

Carlos Valderrama, 65, revealed his dramatic new look in a video shared on social media on October 13. His partner, Elvira Redondo, wielded the clippers as the midfielder watched his trademark curls disappear.

Before the cut, the former Colombia captain announced: “My people, today is the day.” Elvira joked that he would now be known as “the bald Valderrama” as she finished the transformation. The former footballer inspected his newly shaved head and declared: “It looks good.”

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The shock makeover sent social media into a frenzy, with some fans initially suspecting the footage was AI-generated, as reported by creatorzine.com.

But the change was real, bringing an end to one of football’s most recognisable hairstyles. His famous curls had become synonymous with the Colombian star throughout his career.

Former team-mate and legendary goalkeeper René Higuita was among those to react, commenting: “My brother, handsome is handsome – it looks great on you.”

The pair shared the pitch during one of the most memorable moments in football history when Higuita performed his famous ‘scorpion kick’ at Wembley.

Valderrama played for Colombia in the 0-0 friendly against England on 6 September 1995, when Higuita spectacularly flicked a looping Jamie Redknapp cross away with both heels behind his body.

Valderrama’s golden curls also became a familiar sight at three World Cups, in Italy in 1990, the United States in 1994 and France in 1998.

The gifted midfielder, nicknamed Pibe, was widely regarded as one of South America’s finest players, earning a reputation for his exceptional passing and distinctive appearance.

His new look prompted a wave of memes and jokes online, with fans comparing photographs of the former star before and after the haircut. Some expressed nostalgia for the famous afro, while others welcomed the dramatic change.