When bald will be beautiful

This time at the FIFA World Cup, fans say it will be the Year of the Baldies.

Forget the mohawk, the hairbanded look or the flowing locks. All that is from football's past glory days. The much-awaited FIFA World Cup, all set to blast off in June 2006, has one thing that stands out-- most of the soccer superstars headlining the event are bald!

For many, like Brazil's Ronaldo or Roberto Carlos, the shaven look is a style statement they've adopted over the years. Ronaldo, in fact, briefly flirted with another look-- a tuft of hair above his forehead-- before reverting to baldness.

Other biggies who have found it handy include French veterans Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira, and younger teammates William Gallas, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Nicolas Anelka, David Trezeguet and Claude Makelele. Clearly, for the French, bald is tres bon.