Vinicius Junior surprised fans this week as the Brazilian star revealed the cosmetic work he ‘s undergone to enhance his jawline.
The Real Madrid winger had a popular new ‘chin harmonisation’ procedure in recent weeks and revealed his transformation on Instagram.
The reaction has been mixed, with many fans left shocked.
But the star has also received support and admiration from non–football fans and supporters alike.
In light of Vinicius Junior’s transformation and the bold step the former Champions League winner has taken, the Daily Mail has examined some of the more famous and dramatic cosmetic changes made by footballers.
Brazil superstar Vinicius Jr looks a completely different man (right) after undergoing chin harmonisation surgery
Cristiano Ronaldo
As one of the most followed and photographed men on the planet, Cristiano Ronaldo has understandably always valued his appearance and looking good.
Speculation has been rife over the years that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner has undergone a number of cosmetic interventions.
The 41-year-old has never publicly confirmed it, but his image carries a number of distinct differences to his teenage years.
The most notable appears to have been work Ronaldo has had done on his teeth.
After joining Man United as a young talent from Sporting Lisbon, Ronaldo at some stage in late 2003, early 2004 was seen with a brand-new glistening set of veneers.
Ronaldo’s teeth are not the only part of his appearance fans have speculated that he has had amended surgically throughout his magnificent career. The all-time Champions League top goal scorer in part due to his relentless training regime and passion for physical fitness even away from football, is a completely different specimen to the shy, skinny Madeiran who Sir Alex Ferguson brought to Old Trafford all those years ago.
However, there has always been discussion that he also owes part of his chiselled appearance to various cosmetic facial procedures.
Again, whilst Ronaldo has never confirmed it, fans have often suspected that the Portuguese icon has potentially had some sort of botox and thermage treatments to strengthen his jawline and define his cheek bones as well as having a small degree of rhinoplasty work completed to reshape his nose.
Speculation has long been rife that Cristiano Ronaldo has undergone cosmetic work over the years
Jurgen Klopp and Roberto Firmino
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and forward Roberto Firmino were well-known for the dental work they had done during their time at Anfield.
Whilst people naturally change in appearance over time, the abrupt nature of Klopp and Firmino’s abrupt ‘glow ups’ revealed the extent of the work undertaken.
In his early years as a manager in Germany at Mainz and eventually Borussia Dortmund, Klopp had a much less polished look with school-boy curtains and slightly discoloured teeth.
By the time he arrived at Anfield he had already completely transformed into a different man identifiable mainly by his glimmering set of veneers.
One wonders whether that may have inspired his future Champions League winning forward Firmino to get his own work done.
As just months after joining Liverpool in the summer of 2015 the Brazilian must have asked his new boss for some recommendations as by the following season he had a new set of whites.
Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp famously underwent dental work during his time at Anfield
Former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino also notably had work done on his teeth
Rob Holding and Gabriel
Perhaps the most common cosmetic procedure amongst modern footballers alongside extreme dental work is a hair transplant.
Two prime examples of Premier League footballers receiving hair transplants are former Arsenal centre half Rob Holding and his ex-teammate Gabriel Magalhaes.
The two defenders underwent near full transplants and both enjoyed great success with their procedures.
Both players have been relatively open and honest about their new set of locks, with Gabriel in particular actually helping advertise the clinic that restored his hairline, then again unlike botox and other facial augmentation a hair transplant is immediately apparent.
Rob Holding underwent a hair transplant in 2021 that saw his previously receding hair (left – pictured early 2021), transformed into a healthy mop of hair (right – pictured in 2023)
Arsenal defender Gabriel has promoted the clinic where he underwent his transplant
Wayne Rooney
One of the first players to publicly announce they had undergone a hair transplant five-time Premier League winner Wayne Rooney.
The Manchester United’s all-time top goal scorer confirmed the rumours with a hilarious tweet shortly after the surgery in 2011, stating that he was ‘going bald at 25’ and so thought ‘why not’.
This playful response to what at the time was a large amount of media pressure was a hilarious tactic which perhaps helped normalise and popularise the procedure.
Since then, Rooney has maintained his hair with further transplants and other procedures.
The former Champions League winner has possibly not just been to the surgeons’ office for his hair.
As when looking at the before and after photos of Rooney from a few years ago compared to him at the World Cup this summer, Harley Street surgeon Dr. Ivy suggested that, it is likely he has also indulged partially in some botox tweaks as well as a small number of dermal fillers.
However, Rooney has never mentioned any work like this being done before.
Wayne Rooney struggled with hair loss in his late teens and into his early twenties (left – pictured in 2010) and underwent the first of two hair transplants in 2011 (right – pictured in 2011)
Fans commented during the World Cup that the pundit had enjoyed a ‘glow up’
Alejandro Garnacho
Another former Manchester United man to have visited the dentist is polarising winger, Alejandro Garnacho.
Garnacho’s teeth were bared when he scored his first Premier League goal for Man United against Fulham in 2022.
Naturally earning comparisons to a young Ronaldo, Garnacho appeared to follow in his idol’s footsteps by getting his own set of pristine porcelain veneers.
Unfortunately for the Argentine this is where the comparisons to Ronaldo abruptly end.
Alejandro Garnancho first burst onto the scene at Man United before moving to Chelsea
The winger followed in Ronaldo’s path by getting a set of white veneers
Sergio Ramos
The next inclusion in this list may come as a surprise to some fans, as the tough tackling, card addict Sergio Ramos does not immediately strike one as a player who would indulge in cosmetic treatments.
Experts, however, believe the multiple Champions League winning captain has had a decent amount of work done.
It is considered extremely likely that the Spaniard has had work done on his teeth and lower face to provide a sharper smile as well as minimal botox alongside rhinoplasty work on his nose.
This has helped among other changes to transform the World Cup winner from a long haired, skinny, unassuming young lad into a tatted, sharp and imposing man.
Former Spain and Real Madrid star Sergio Ramos looks distinctly different to the start of his playing career
Ramos has reportedly undergone a series of cosmetic treatments over the years
Neymar
Neymar is also a member of the stellar list of players that have had some help from cosmetic surgeons. Like many of his Brazilian teammates the former Champions League winner has had a good amount of work done on his teeth, including a fresh set of veneers and dental bonding finished off with some light gum contouring.
Naturally Neymar enlisted the services of the best dental surgeons available and found great personal success, however the style of blinding bright veneers is still a brave one in places as the look still divides opinion amongst football fans and the public. Yet I don’t imagine the Brazilian himself will have any regrets.
