Given the age at which their careers begin, it's no secret that footballers will mature and change their looks right in front of our very own eyes.
Who can forget Cristiano Ronaldo's bleached blonde highlights when he arrived at Manchester United as an 18-year-old from Sporting Lisbon?
Now 34, the Portuguese star has secured his status as one of the world's greatest-ever players, as well as being one of the most marketable icons in the sport too.
Then there's Lionel Messi. Here was a shy and diminutive winger from Rosario with his long locks waving about as he danced past five Getafe players to score one of his greatest-ever goals.
Even now, the bearded 31-year-old is still breaking records left, right and centre for Barcelona.
The ever-changing hairstyles, the bizarre fashion trends and the acceptance that their lives are going to be lived out in the public eye. It's all part of being a professional footballer.
But how have football's elite changed since emerging into the world as fresh-faced teenagers?
Check out our gallery above for before and now images...
