No, Landon Donovan didn’t cut his haircut appointment early to make it in time for Monday’s Fox Sports coverage of UEFA Euro 2024.
Hours after the 42-year-old former soccer star made headlines for his strange new look, Donovan explained in a text message exchange with former LA Galaxy teammate Mike McGehee that he had undergone a hair transplant two weeks earlier.
“LD please check your Twitter and fire your barber right now,” Maggie messaged Donovan, to which Donovan replied, “Where were you 7 hours ago? I had a hair transplant 2 weeks ago and they said it wouldn’t show on camera.”
McGhee then asked Donovan if it was OK to publicize the text changes widely on social media.
“Whatever, I deserve it,” Donovan replied.
When Donovan appeared on live broadcast of Austria’s 1-0 loss to France on Monday, the comments on social media instantly erupted.
“Did Landon Donovan literally storm out of the barbershop mid-haircut because he was late for work?” Posted by X user.
Another person said:“Landon Donovan doesn’t give a damn, and I respect that.”
Donovan played for the LA Galaxy from 2005 to 2014, before returning to the team for a second time in 2016.
Considered one of the greatest American players of all time, Donovan is tied with Clint Dempsey for the most goals scored by a U.S. national team player with 57.
Donovan is the only American to have won the Golden Ball award and has won the U.S. Soccer Player of the Year award a record four times.
Donovan played in three World Cups during his career, but coach Jurgen Klinsmann famously left him out of the squad in 2014.
The team, which had seven players under the age of 24, was eliminated by Belgium in the round of 16 and would have benefited from the presence of experienced veteran Donovan.
Donovan officially announced his retirement in 2018.
After retiring, he became a commentator for Fox Sports.
