Former U.S. men’s national team star and current Fox Sports analyst Landon Donovan had soccer fans utterly confused on Monday when he appeared on the network’s Euro 2024 pregame coverage for France-Austria with a hairstyle that looked like a lost bet.
The USMNT legend was apparently well aware of the internet’s reaction to the haircut, but he also wanted to clear it all up with an explanation.
In a text message exchange shared by former Los Angeles Galaxy teammate Mike Magee, Donovan said he recently had a hair transplant procedure done, which involved harvesting the hair on the back of his head, leaving a noticeable bald spot beyond his sideburns.
Sorry @landondonovan 😂 pic.twitter.com/VGj2AFwWhs
— Mike Magee (@magee18) June 18, 2024
I particularly love how Donovan decided to get the procedure just a couple weeks before he was due to be on TV for a month. Elite scheduling.
Donovan was evidently told that it wouldn’t show up on camera, but he couldn’t even make it through the first week of Euro 2024 without Fox’s viewers clearly seeing the hairstyle. Magee had the best reaction to that excuse, asking if former Mexico captain Rafael Márquez told him it wouldn’t be visible on TV.
Well played, Mike.
Donovan also seemed to be a good sport about the internet’s reaction, saying he deserved to be roasted for the look. And, trust me, he absolutely was.
This was how Twitter/X reacted
https://t.co/ys1fEVYMB4 pic.twitter.com/mwyaJQvbix
— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) June 18, 2024
very funny to think of some professional tv makeup and hair person being like “alright man you’re all set” https://t.co/MHadHvOkpI
— 🟡 The tumboy 🟡 (@TheTumboy) June 18, 2024
Me overnight at least once a month when I forget to charge my clippers https://t.co/9OB5TelYtc
— Milligan (@milliga17) June 17, 2024
Donovan! I thought I told you to trim those sideburns! https://t.co/xtDfGUH8A5 pic.twitter.com/3pgjsVoYke
— Jesus Zamorano (@jzamoranotv) June 17, 2024
https://t.co/DYN6cyxpVp pic.twitter.com/kzFZFozLxc
— World Wrestling Featheration Monday Night McGraw (@ManuclearBomb) June 18, 2024
Donovan looking like that guy from scary movie 2 https://t.co/vDFbCTvaUX pic.twitter.com/TKbHSXAVCr
— Greg. (@gregdashsoul) June 17, 2024
An on-set hairstylist really saw this and said you’re good to go my guy💯 https://t.co/XIinR9OZaB
— kyle (@kyledxniel) June 18, 2024
Did bro lose a bet? 😂 https://t.co/aX9ew8rfnT
— Felix on The Felix Show (@FelixRadio) June 18, 2024
Somewhere, @MLSist just felt a charge of electricity run through his spine, followed by an inexplicable urge to get his notebook out and fuel up some exotic car and set off on a reporting trip https://t.co/GD8t1qPiNd
— Leander “same handle *elsewhere*” Schaerlaeckens (@LeanderAlphabet) June 18, 2024
One of the greatest mysteries of the 21st century finally explained https://t.co/cZh7PlUsw0
— Matteo Bonetti (@Bonetti) June 18, 2024
I have no choice but to respect Landon Donovan for this. https://t.co/M21GGhHrRQ
— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) June 18, 2024
