No, Landon Donovan didn’t leave a haircut appointment early to arrive in time for Fox Sports’ UEFA Euro 2024 coverage on Monday.
Hours after the 42-year-old former football star’s bizarre new look went viral, Donovan revealed in a text exchange with his former LA Galaxy teammate Mike Magee that he had undergone a hair transplant procedure two weeks ago.
“LD check Twitter ASAP and fire your barber,” Maggie messaged Donovan, who responded, “Where were you seven hours ago??? Had a hair transplant procedure two weeks ago and was told it wouldn’t show on camera.”
Maggie then asked Donovan if he could broadcast the changes to her text on social media.
Donovan replied, “Whatever it is, I deserve it.”
When Donovan appeared on the broadcast of Austria’s 1-0 loss to France on Monday, comments on social media immediately intensified.
One X user posted, “Did Landon Donovan just run away from the barber in the middle of his haircut because he was late for work?”
Another joked, “Landon Donovan doesn’t care about this at all, and you know, I respect that.”
Donovan was a member of the LA Galaxy from 2005-14 and had a second stint with the team in 2016.
Considered one of the American greats, Donovan is tied for all-time goal scorer with Clint Dempsey with 57 USMNT goals.
Donovan is the only American to win the Golden Ball Award and has won the US Soccer Athlete of the Year Award a record four times.
Although Donovan appeared in three World Cups throughout his career, coach Jurgen Klinsmann dropped him from the team in 2014.
That team – which featured seven players under the age of 24 – would have benefited from the presence of an experienced player such as Donovan, as they were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Belgium.
Donovan officially declared it his career in 2018.
After his retirement he became a color commentator for Fox Sports.
