There’s this long-held idea in sports that players take on the attitude of their team. Johnny Damon went corporate when he moved from the Red Sox to the Yankees and Jeremy Lin’s hair took on a life of its own when he played for the Lakers -- but there’s one team that dominates this ideal -- Real Madrid.
These photos prove Real Madrid turns soccer players into glamorous hipsters
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
The following is a complete documentation of Real Madrid players before, and after they arrived.
Cristiano Ronaldo, regular attractive dude (2008)
Cristiano Ronaldo, white-hot ball of fabulosity (2015)
Gareth Bale, goofy Weasley brother (2012)
Gareth Bale, upscale tapas bar mixologist (2015)
James Rodriguez, glove-wearing paperboy (2012)
James Rodriguez, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr. (2015)
Toni Kroos, picture of German efficiency (2014)
Toni Kroos, German Macklemore (2015)
Sergio Ramos, Rollerskating enthusiast (2004)
Sergio Ramos, Floating facial hair enthusiast (2015)
Dani Carvajal, Drake’s Spanish brother (2012)
Dani Carvajal, Artisinal woodworking master (2015)
There’s one player Real Madrid didn’t change. It couldn’t change him.
Luka Modric, Lord Goofy Face (2011)
Luka Modric, Lord Goofy Face (2015)
Photos via Getty Images
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