LOOK: Iceland midfielder heats up social media, Neymar gets hair do-over

GELENDZHIK, Russia – A blonde Iceland midfielder has become a social media sensation, attracting more admirers than the population of Iceland after a cameo role in the 1-1 World Cup draw with Argentina.

Rurik Gislason came on as a second-half substitute on Saturday, June 16, to win admirers worldwide purring over his cool Nordic looks.

Before the 30-year-old was introduced to help hold Lionel Messi and co. at bay, his Instagram account had a respectable 30,000 followers.

By end-Saturday Gislason’s following on the social media website ballooned to 250,000, then reached over 600,000 – and counting – by Wednesday, June 20, well over the 330,000-strong population of Iceland.

“How is it possible to be this cute?” a popular Brazilian actress Gabriela Lopes wondered to her Instagram fans.

can we take a second to appreciate iceland’s rúrik gíslason? #worldcup pic.twitter.com/GwZOYFdeSr

— texx (@texxonfire) June 19, 2018

On Twitter the hashtag #sexyrurik has been trending, with many of the posts originating from South America.

An Argentinian travel agency shared his picture after the game to advertise trips to the Nordic island.

“Girls, who’s in?” it drooled.

Gislason plays for German second division outfit Sandhausen and sidelines in clothes modelling.

Iceland player Rúrik Gíslason has gained 250,000 Instagram followers after making 30 minute appearance against Argentina.

Wondering why though  #ISL #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/q9STuHTnAU

— Photos of Football (@photosofootball) June 18, 2018

Neymar’s hairdo change

Neymar is famous for his stepovers, but it was his World Cup hair do-over that really got Brazilians talking Tuesday, June 19.

The world’s most expensive footballer was underwhelming in Brazil’s 1-1 World Cup opener against Switzerland on Sunday.

His coif, however, featuring shaved sides and a blond-dyed mop at the front, was unmissable.

The look sent Brazilian social media’s ruthless meme machine into overdrive, juxtaposing Neymar alongside everything from a lookalike llama to the contents of a Pot Noodle or a packet of angel hair pasta.

Nice hair Neymar pic.twitter.com/b4FaWItZpi

— Ryan Moffat (@rymoffat) June 17, 2018

“The Brazilian star went onto the field disguised as a cockatoo,” the Meia Hora tabloid wrote on its front page.

Many questioned, in all seriousness, whether Neymar hadn’t been put off his game by thinking too much about his hair.

So there was national relief when the superstar was photographed at the team’s Sochi base with the offending noodles-feathers part of his hair snipped off.

“After criticisms, Neymar gets rid of his controversial haircut,” the celebrity news site popzone.tv wrote.

“It could be superstition or just coincidence, but Neymar has decided to change his look again after the 1-1 draw,” the leading globoesporte site said.

But there could be more surprises to come.

Estadao newspaper reported that Neymar brought two hairdressers with him to Russia: Nariko, who does the cutting, and Wagner Tenorio, who handles the coloring.

No joke! Comics fly to Russia

Going back to Iceland, the team received a surprise morale-boosting visit in Russia by a quartet of comedians from back home, an official from the Nordic team’s camp told AFP Tuesday.

The funnymen made their flying visit to the team’s Black Sea coast training base near Gelendzhik for an impromptu performance late-Monday.

“We were asked if we would go to Russia and give a surprise show for the national team at their hotel,” said Bjorn Bragi, one of the comics, on his Instagram website.

“It was the easiest yes we have ever said,” he wrote.

“Many of the jokes were directed at the coach (Heimir Hallgrimsson) and players, who gracefully took the banter on the chin,” an FA official told AFP.

“He thoroughly enjoyed the show, as did the players,” said Omar Smarason.

“The team is here for the long haul, and we are in it together.  It is important to keep us all fresh and do something entirely different every now and then,” he said.

The tiny Nordic nation, who defied the odds to reach the quarter-finals at Euro 2016, got off to a promising World Cup with a draw against South American giants Argentina.

Their next Group D tie is against Nigeria on Friday. – Rappler.com