US Soccer’s Landon Donovan Addresses Hairpiece After Balding Struggles

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Landon Donovan no longer has to rely on a hat trick to hide his hair.

People noticed a big change in the appearance of the former U.S. Men’s National Team soccer player during the 2026 World Cup: he’s now growing out a full head of hair, which is quite different from the receding hairline he used to cover up.

Donovan has had two unsuccessful hair transplant surgeries in the last twenty years, including one that became widely known in 2024 after photos surfaced online. Now, he chooses to wear a specially made hairpiece.

The World Cup commentator, feeling self-conscious about losing his hair, decided on a surprising move after some fans began chanting “Rogaine!” at him during the broadcast.

It wasn’t a sudden, dramatic realization,” the 44-year-old explained to The Athletic in October. “Instead, it was more representative of a pattern I’ve experienced throughout my life.”

Eventually, Donovan reached an impasse, admitting, “Maybe it’s mid-life crisis or whatever.” 

He explained that he found his hair loss frustrating. ‘Whenever I looked at photos, I just saw bald spots,’ he said. ‘I’ve never even known what it feels like to have a full head of hair.’ He considered his options: doing nothing, shaving his head completely, or getting a hairpiece.

The podcast host of Unfiltered shared details with his audience, including a behind-the-scenes look at getting fitted for and receiving his hairpiece.

He told The Athletic that if he suddenly reappeared on TV or a podcast with hair, it would be really strange. He explained that he couldn’t just show up without addressing the change, and decided it was best to be open and honest about it from the start.

Donovan’s new haircut has not only boosted his confidence, but he’s also connected with others who understand what it’s like to feel insecure.

He explained that the response to his story was overwhelming. He’d received countless messages from people who had gone through similar experiences and felt incredibly grateful he’d shared his own. ‘I could share thousands of messages saying simply, “Thank you,”’ he said.

Donovan said it’s been surprisingly impactful, which wasn’t what he expected at all, but he’s glad it happened.

For more stars who have debuted epic hair transformations over the years, keep reading…

The country music star revealed she was going back to her natural hair color in an August 2025 Instagram post. She joked that she hadn’t seen her original shade since she was around twelve years old, but decided it was time for a change.

In April 2025, the Marvel actor known for playing Bucky Barnes debuted a shaved head at the Thunderbolts premiere in Los Angeles, after previously being recognized for his character’s long hair.

In April 2026, the star of Queer Eye surprised fans by switching his usual gray hair for a dark brown color. He clarified that the change was for an acting part, and jokingly assured everyone it wasn’t a midlife crisis.

Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards’ daughter documented her DIY hair dyeing experience – complete with all the mistakes she made along the way – on TikTok, and she’s thrilled with how it turned out.

She shared that she’d been dreaming about this hairstyle for years and was thrilled to finally have it done.

Actress Janeane Garofalo, known for her role in Help, showed off her new, playfully-described haircut – which she called a “choppity chop” – at the Breakthrough Prize Ceremony in April 2026.

To prepare for his role in Dune: Part Three, the actor shaved off his beard in July 2025 – something he hadn’t done in six years. The filmmakers needed him to have a clean-shaven appearance to play Duncan Idaho again.

The singer who won American Idol showed off a new haircut in an advertisement for The Voice in July 2025. She replaced her long, blonde hair with a shorter, dark bob.

The actor debuted a bearded look, which he sports on season two of The Terminal List, in June 2025.

In May 2025, the actor known for his role in Stranger Things surprised fans with a new look: a shaved head. He revealed the style at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards while attending the event in Tokyo, Japan.

In March 2025, the “Karma” singer debuted her rainbow mohawk at the GLAAD Media Awards. 

Oh my gosh, I remember when she posted that TikTok in March 2025! She totally called that hairstyle – you know, the one with the messy bangs – the absolute worst haircut she’d ever gotten. I was horrified for her, but honestly, even a bad hair day on her is still amazing!

In March 2025, Gypsy Rose Blanchard showed off a new, shorter hairstyle. This was about two months after she and her fiancé, Ken Urker, welcomed their daughter, Aurora Urker.

In January 2025, the reality TV star from The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, who used to be known for her blond hair, showed off a new red bob hairstyle on Watch What Happens Live.

In September 2024, the model showed off a lighter hair color, just a month after welcoming her and Justin Bieber’s first child, a son named Jack Blues Bieber.

Lily Collins, known for her role in Emily in Paris, revealed a striking new look at the premiere of her latest film, MAXXXINE, in June 2024.

As a lifestyle expert, I totally get the power of a hair transformation! I recently shared with Vogue how changing my look always unlocks different facets of who I am, and it’s something I genuinely enjoy. My latest cut and color feel incredibly liberating – it’s a bolder expression of myself, yet surprisingly light and airy. Honestly, it feels more authentically me than ever before, perfectly capturing how I’m feeling right now.

At the Chanel Artists dinner during the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2024, Katie showed off a new hairstyle: soft, caramel-colored highlights beautifully mixed into her brown hair.

The Kardashian family member recently changed her hairstyle, trading in her long hair for a shorter, platinum blonde bob.

Kylie Jenner playfully asked if anyone was missing her, referencing her nickname ‘king kylie’ in an Instagram post on June 8th. Her sister, Khloé Kardashian, enthusiastically responded, confirming she was indeed missing Kylie!

The former Bravo star debuted a platinum blonde look during 2024 Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture.

In May 2024, actress Alexandra Daddario, known for her role in May December, showed off a new, shorter hairstyle—a bob that hits around her shoulders—at a Bulgari event in Rome.

Last May, the actress debuted a new bob haircut that many online fans noticed looked similar to a style she wore while playing Mary Camden in the popular ’90s TV show, 7th Heaven.

As a style enthusiast, I’ve been following Megan Fox’s hair journey, and it’s been quite a ride! She recently switched back to her natural dark brown color in May 2024, opting for a chic bob. This came just after a fun phase where she rocked blue hair – she even called it her “Jedi era,” which I thought was a really cool way to describe a bold new look!

Anna Nicole Smith’s daughter revealed a fresh, shoulder-length haircut during the 2024 Kentucky Derby, where she was with her father, Larry Birkhead.

The singer debuted a lighter, shorter ‘do in April 2024.

The Fashion Police alum debuted a blonde bombshell hair transformation May 8.

Back to blonde: Kim debuted a new platinum ‘do in April 2024.

Rihanna, who founded Fenty Beauty, showed off new bright blonde hair on April 17th at a party for her recent collaboration with Puma in London.

The model debuted a bleach blonde pixie cut at the FRAME event April 4.

Megan Fox, known for her role in Jennifer’s Body, recently changed her hair color from bright pink to a soft baby blue, and showed off the new style on April 2nd.

Just weeks after getting a long bob haircut, Zendaya showed off a new honey blonde color at the premiere of her movie, Challengers, on March 26th.

The Great star ushered in spring with a fresh cut, as she debuted a long bob March 25.

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2026-06-17 00:48