Phil Foden Photo: VCG
England's Phil Foden struck the post in their opening UEFA Euro 2020 game against Croatia but the Manchester City 20-year-old struck a chord with Three Lions fans thanks to his pre-tournament haircut.
Foden chose to dye his hair ahead of his first major tournament with England's senior side, with many suggesting that the peroxide look owed something to either rapper Eminem or former England star Paul Gascoigne.
The breakout star of the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, "Gazza" was rebuilding his reputation by the time of Euro 1996 in England and the then Glasgow Rangers player sported a new look for the tournament.
Gascoigne's hair was bleached blond and cropped short - as is Foden's - and it was sporting that haircut that he scored a goal against Scotland that not only remains
one of the most iconic goals in his own illustrious career but in the history of the England national football team.
Foden was not born when Gascoigne lifted the ball over an onrushing Colin Hendry and then spanked the ball past Andy Goram in the Scotland goal but he told the media that he knows all about the Euro 96 talisman.
"I remember watching highlights on the TV of Gazza - an unbelievable player," Foden said.
"The full nation know what he means to the country and what he did, so it won't be too bad if I try to bring a bit of Gazza on to the pitch.
"I don't think you can listen too much to what people are saying. I have to try and keep my feet on the ground and just being me and keep doing what has done well for me this year.
"I try and come off social media as much as I can. Not try and read it too much."
His new look was the talk of social media ahead of the tournament, closely followed by his justifcation of Gareth Southgate's decision to start him against Croatia with his performance on the right side of England's front three.
There will be fewer comparisons with Eminem and more with Gascoigne if he continues that way at the Euros.
There might even be less focus on his hair, though that seems unlikely given the clamor of the British media.
"I've had the same haircut for what seems like ages now so I thought I'd just try something new," he said.
"I woke up this morning with a lot of comparisons to Gazza and Eminem so yeah it was my own thing and people have turned it into something else.
"They [Foden's England teammates] have said that they've liked it so it's a positive. It's all been positive - which I've been surprised about."
He is not the first to dye his hair blonde for a tournament. He is not even the only one at this European Championship.
Scotland striker Lyndon Dykes has done it, too, as have Czech midfielder Jakub Jankto and Switzerland's Granit Xhaka. They have had a mixed start between them but that's the way of things if history is to believed. Here's a trip back in time.
Paul Gascoigne - England, Euro 1996
The midfield maestro had his finest moment in an England shirt against Scotland, where he happened to be playing his club football at the time with the mighty Glasgow Rangers. His goal against the Auld Enemy aside, "Gazza" gave hope to the nation as he helped Terry Venables' side to their first semifinals since the 1966 World Cup. A first final was not to be and Gascoigne went within a stud of settling it before Germany won the shoot-out.
Romania - World Cup 1998
The whole Romanian team ended up dyeing their hair blond at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. It came about after the team tried to convince their coach Anghel Iordanescu, to shave his head if they won. The team offered to dye their hair.
"At a strategy meeting two days before our first game against Colombia, we asked Mr Iordanescu if he'd be willing to shave his head if we qualified after two matches," former international Andrian Ilie told Vice several years later. "And when he agreed, we decided that if he actually went through with it, we'd dye ours, too. But first we had to beat Colombia and England."
They beat Colombia and then the Three Lions. "After we beat England, we made the manager cut his hair," IIie adds. "Then it was our turn to keep our promise. At first, some players said they wouldn't do it, but we eventually all agreed that we would get it done as a team."
Local hairdressers did the job and it went so well they were not recognized going back to the hotel or by commentators in their next match. The Romanians lost to Croatia.
Mexico - World Cup 2018
The Mexican national team, known as "El Tri," had reached the round of 16 against Brazil at the World Cup when Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, Carlos Salcedo and teammate Miguel Layun went blonde. It did not work out for the trio them, though, as Brazil won2-0 thanks to goals from Neymar and Roberto Firmino - Neymar shaved his own blonde hair off before the game.
Aaron Ramsey - Wales, Euro 2016
The Arsenal midfielder captured headlines with his hairstyle ahead of the Euros, unveiling it at the final training camp.
"I just fancied a change. It was a bit of a shock to some of my teammates," he said.
"I have had a bit of stick but I don't look at any social media things. It might make me stand out on the pitch but I already want to make an impression on the field. That is my main target to help Wales get out of the group stages and then see where we go from there."
He did, taking them to the semis in a first tournament in half a century but Ramsey missed it as he was suspended.
Lionel Messi - Argentina, Copa America Centenario
The Argentine great did it after the tournament, following a third final defeat in a row for the Albiceleste - this time on penalties to Chile in the US.
"I made a change to start from zero," Messi told Argentine comedian Mingo. "A lot of things had happened and I said to myself, 'I have to break this and start again.'"
Messi has had the last laugh so far.
