Ronaldo's hairstyles through the years, from blond highlights to tight top knot

WHEN you're one of the top sports stars on the planet, how you look is crucial to your commercial value.

Cristiano Ronaldo, 35, has sponsorships coming out of his eyeballs, and his ever-changing appearance is crucial to brands.

Through the years, the Portuguese legend has experimented with his locks - from streaky highlights, frosted tips, to shaved lines.

This season, he's been sporting a top knot, while his partner Georgina Rodriguez recently gave Ronaldo some braids.

Here's a look at CR7's hairstyles through the years.

BOYISH CURLS

Ronaldo naturally has curly hair.

As a kid, his boyish curls were evident in various throwback photos he's shared on social media through the years.

At that point, he hadn't discovered the beauty of hair gel yet - so he sported more of a bouffant haircut.

Other times, he'd just have it shaved short.... a solid number three all over. Simple but effective.

HELLO BLONDIE

When Ronaldo first arrived at Old Trafford, his curls were still evident in his first training session.

They were accompanied by blond streaks in his first Manchester United photocall, but a ribbing from United team-mates forced him to change it up and go for something shorter.

The streaks remained, mind.

SHORT BACK AND SIDES

The trimmer came into play from 2004 onwards on Ronaldo's locks.

At Euro 2004, the backs and sides were shaved short. On top, it was also a little shorter and the front flicked up to reveal frosted blond tips.

It was Ronaldo's first 'trendy' hairstyle.

The longest we've seen Ronaldo's hair was during the 2006-07 season, when he was coming into his own in the Premier League.

A throwback to the mullet, it was long at the back and spiky on top.

It was a hairstyle that didn't last long though.

TOILET BRUSH

When Ronaldo signed for Real Madrid, he knew he had to keep reinventing himself being one of the best players in the world.

Again, short on the back and sides - the top was cut short so it spiked up - just like a toilet brush.

Blond frosted tips also matched his now ever-present tan.

Arguably, it wasn't his best.

EMBRACING THE CURLS

In 2018, Ronaldo went back to basics.

With curls back in fashion, the ex-Sporting Lisbon forward embraced his luscious locks, growing them long and adding frosted blond tips all through it.

But he kept it short and sweet on the sides.

SHAVED LINES

It must be a World Cup thing.

Because at the tournaments of 2014 and 2018, Ronaldo sported shaved lines in his hairdo.

First one was shaved into a thick main of hair, the second was etched into a shaved look.

It's fair to say, the latter suited him better.

JUVE GOT STYLE

Although Ronaldo's only been with Italian giants Juventus since 2018, he's managed three different types of hairstyle.

One, was slick, short and on top it was parted and glued down with wax.

Then he experimented with an Alice band pulling his longer locks off his face while he played.

And little did we know that he was growing it so he can have a top knot for this season.

What's your favourite Ronaldo hairstyle?