Lionel Messi has worn a lot of haircuts over the years, from long and loose to a short crop with a full beard, and that range is handy when you’re planning wedding grooming. Most of his looks share clean sides, natural texture and a shaped top, which happens to be what reads best next to a tailored suit in photos. When I style a groom, or a guest who wants to look sharp, I care less about copying a cut exactly than about matching it to his face shape, hair density, outfit and venue. The fifteen versions below run from formal to relaxed, and each one needs a little refining to get through a ceremony, portraits and a long reception.
Timing the Fade, the Beard Trim and the Trial Cut
Short men’s cuts change fast. A fade that looks crisp on Monday shows regrowth by the following weekend, so timing matters as much as the style itself. This is the schedule I give grooms.
- Six to eight weeks out: book a trial cut with the barber who’ll do the wedding cut. Bring two or three photos and wear a collared shirt so you both see the cut against a neckline.
- About a month out: if you’re changing color or growing your hair longer, commit now. Color needs time to settle, and longer styles need a shaping cut before the final one.
- Two to five days before: the final cut. Fades and buzz cuts belong at the shorter end of that window, while longer, layered styles can go closer to a week.
- One to two days before: trim and shape the beard and clean up the neckline, so any irritation has faded by the ceremony.
- The morning itself: styling only. Nobody should take clippers to your hair on the day, because a slip can’t be fixed in time.
After the final cut, practise styling at home with the exact product you’ll wear. If a groomsman is helping you get ready, show him too; nobody wants to learn a blow-dry at seven in the morning.
1. Messi Short Hair With Low Fade
A low fade is the safest place to start. The sides stay neat without the harsh scalp contrast of a skin fade, and the top keeps enough length for soft texture, which sharpens the outline of the face above a tailored jacket. Ask your barber for a fade that blends above the ears and for scissor texture on top rather than clipper work. On the day I’d use a matte styling cream, because shiny products look wet under a photographer’s flash. If you’re unsure where to begin, begin here.
2. Messi Textured Crop With Beard
Short, choppy movement on top means this crop barely needs styling, which counts on a long day of photos, dancing and heat. The beard adds maturity, but only when it’s shaped. I look at the cheek line and the neckline first. A beard that creeps down the throat looks unkempt above a shirt collar, so the neck line should sit roughly a finger’s width above the Adam’s apple. Keep it tidy rather than bulky, and use a small amount of matte paste to define the crop.
3. Messi Side Part Haircut
Ask for a Messi side part haircut when the ceremony is formal and you want something classic with a modern edge. The part gives structure while the sides stay clean. Medium length on top lets the hair comb slightly to one side, and with a traditional suit the taper should stay soft. Your barber should find your natural part rather than forcing a new one; a part cut against the growth direction springs open by afternoon. A lightweight pomade with a natural shine is enough. Heavy gel looks dated in pictures and often flattens before the reception anyway.
4. Messi Brushed Up Haircut
Height at the front lengthens the face, which is why a Messi brushed up haircut suits round and square faces so well. It needs straight or slightly wavy hair that holds volume; very fine hair tends to collapse by mid-afternoon. Taper the sides cleanly and leave enough length on top to lift. The height comes from the hair dryer, not the product, so blow-dry the front upward first and then add a little clay or cream. Aim for soft height. Spikes make a groom look younger than he’d probably like in a photo he’ll keep for decades.
5. Messi Mid Fade With Short Top
Sitting higher than a low fade, a mid fade gives more contrast around the temples and beard line, paired with a short, practical top. Summer and outdoor weddings suit it because there’s nothing to wilt in the heat. If you wear a beard, the fade has to blend into it, or you’ll get a visible line where clipper meets beard. A tiny amount of styling cream adds shape. Higher fades also show regrowth sooner, so book this cut close to the date.
6. Messi Slick Back Haircut
A slick back is the dressiest option here. Longer hair on top is brushed back with control while the sides stay tapered, and it sits naturally with a black or navy suit or a tuxedo. Soft, not greasy, is the goal. I’d blow-dry the hair back first so it already holds the direction, then add a light pomade or cream, because product alone can’t train hair that wants to fall forward. You’ll need enough length on top to reach the crown when it’s combed back. A neat beard and a clean shave both work with it.
7. Messi Taper Fade With Beard
For a clean look without much skin on show at the sides, Messi’s taper fade with beard is the answer. A taper softens around the ears and neckline, so close-up portraits look natural, and the beard can blend into the sideburns. With no harsh lines, it suits most face shapes. Ask for texture on top so the hair moves slightly. Trim the beard a day or two before the wedding rather than that morning, giving any redness or razor irritation time to calm down.
8. Messi Long Hair With Natural Flow
Longer hair falling around the face is the softest option, and it needs more planning than a short cut, not less. It should be shaped, never simply grown out. Have your barber or stylist remove bulk and add light layers at the sides and back about a week or two before the wedding, so the ends look fresh but not freshly cut. On the day, a smoothing cream controls frizz without killing movement. For an outdoor ceremony I’d keep a slim hair tie in your pocket in case the wind picks up. It sits naturally with a relaxed suit at a beach or garden wedding.
9. Messi Blonde Haircut
Going blonde draws attention to the haircut, so the cut itself has to be clean, usually a short textured top with faded sides. Dark hair rarely lifts to a clean blonde in one sitting and can pass through orange stages on the way, so book the color several weeks ahead to leave room for a second session or toning. Use purple shampoo if your colorist recommends it, and think about skin tone; very pale blonde can wash out fair skin in photos. A shaped beard balances the color. It’s the boldest choice on this list and suits a groom who’s comfortable being looked at.
10. Messi Short Quiff Haircut
A short quiff haircut adds just enough lift at the front to look fresh, without the drama of a full pompadour. The sides are tapered or lightly faded, and the top needs enough length to push up and back. Blow-dry the front with a round brush or your fingers, then finish with matte clay. Got a cowlick at the front hairline? Show your barber, because the quiff should be cut to go with it rather than against it. Stubble, a short beard or a clean shave all suit it.
11. Messi Buzz Cut With Beard
A buzz cut puts all the attention on your face, jaw and suit, which means the beard now does the styling. A faded buzz feels more current, especially when the beard blends smoothly into the sides. It’s a good answer for very thick hair or a receding hairline, and for anyone who’d rather not think about hair on the day. The scalp shows in close-ups, so a light, non-shiny moisturizer keeps it from looking dry or flaky. Get it cut two or three days before, since a buzz grows out visibly within a week.
12. Messi Medium Hair With Side Sweep
Medium hair swept to one side is relaxed and handsome, a good middle ground between a sharp fade and a very short cut. Ask for a soft taper around the ears and neckline with layers on top so it doesn’t sit heavy. Blow-dry it in the direction you want it to fall, then add a lightweight cream; the finish should look smooth, not stiff. I test this one with the actual shirt and jacket, since a sweep that lands over the collar at the back can look untidy. It pairs well with linen, classic and semi-formal suits.
13. Messi Spiky Haircut
A Messi spiky haircut can be wedding-appropriate when it’s styled in a grown-up way: soft, textured lift instead of hard gel points. It suits short to medium hair with a clean fade or taper at the sides. Ask your barber for point-cut texture on top so the hair separates on its own. On the day, warm a little matte clay between your palms and work it through with your fingers, lifting the front slightly and keeping the sides tidy. It reads youthful and energetic but still neat enough for family photos.
14. Messi Crew Cut With Fade
Of everything here, the crew cut is the one I trust most to look the same at midnight as it did at noon. It’s short and structured, with a little length on top so it looks softer than a buzz, and a fade keeps the edges fresh. Nothing moves much over the day, which suits formal weddings and men who don’t want to spend time styling. A small amount of cream or paste smooths the top, and a trimmed beard or light stubble balances it.
15. Messi Classic Short Haircut
Twenty years from now, a classic short cut is the one you’ll least regret in the album. The sides are short without a heavy fade, and the top keeps enough length for a soft combed finish, so it looks natural in photos and never pulls attention from the outfit. Ask your barber for clean edges, light texture and a balanced shape, and use a little styling cream for hold. When a groom can’t decide, this is where I usually steer him.
Adapting a Messi Cut to Curls, Thinning Crowns and Cowlicks
The photos you save usually show thick, straight, cooperative hair. Yours may not be, and that’s fine. Most of these cuts adapt well once your barber knows what he’s working with, so I raise these points at the trial rather than on the week of the wedding.
- Curly or coily hair: shape the top around the curl pattern rather than thinning it out. A taper or low fade with defined curls on top looks sharp, and a light-hold curl cream keeps the shape without crunch. Skip the slick back unless you’re happy to blow-dry straight every time.
- A thinning crown or receding hairline: longer hair on top tends to separate and show the scalp under flash. A textured crop, crew cut or buzz usually looks fuller, and matte products help, since shine makes thin areas more visible.
- Cowlicks and double crowns: point them out before the first snip. Leaving a little extra weight over a cowlick lets it lie down, while cutting it too short makes it stand straight up.
- Coarse, fast-growing hair: plan the final cut at the very end of the timing window, or the clean edges blur before the ceremony.
Wearing These Cuts as a Guest Instead of the Groom
Guests get more freedom. The bolder versions here, like the blonde or a high spiky crop, are easier to carry when you’re not the one standing at the front. Do read the dress code, though. A slick back or side part sits right with black tie, while a textured crop or quiff fits cocktail attire. Keep the same timing for the cut, and you’ll still look freshly groomed in the group photos.
The Safe Cuts, the Bold Ones and When to Book Them
The appeal of Messi look hairstyles for weddings is balance: sporty and modern, but easy to tidy up for a formal event. Your hair type, beard, face shape and outfit decide which one fits you. For a safe choice, go with a low fade, taper fade, side part or classic short cut. For something bolder, try the blonde, the brushed-up cut or the textured crop with a beard. Whatever you choose, book a trial cut early and the final cut a few days before the wedding, then practise styling it yourself at least once.
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