Lionel Messi makes fashion statement, goes platinum blonde

Lionel Messi in El Prat airport, boarding to Birmingham where FC Barcelona will make the preseason stage on July 25, 2016. [Photo/IC]

BUENOS AIRES - Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi made headlines on Sunday. Well, actually, his hair did.

The footballer apparently grew tired of his look and decided to dye his hair platinum blonde.

His wife Antonella Roccuzzo then posted a picture of the new Messi on Instagram, with the caption "change of look #blondeboy", and the Twitterverse went berserk.

Loyal fan Navid Rahman said, "Finally Messi dyed his hair to match his golden touch."

Not so loyal fan Phanatic wrote "he deserves jail after this," referring to the player's legal troubles for tax evasion.

A court recently handed the player a suspended 21-month sentence, but after seeing his new hair style maybe the judges will rethink their leniency, at least that's what Phanatic is suggesting.

However, being investigated and accused of evading taxes isn't the worst thing to happen to the 29-year-old in recent months.

Argentina's national team lost the Copa America Centenario final to Chile, after Messi missed a penalty kick in overtime.

As penance, he announced he was quitting the national team, but an outpouring of support from fans seems to have changed his mind.

He's currently on vacation with his family, so maybe he'll get around to dying the beard too.