Colombian legend and three-time MLS Best XI selection Carlos Valderrama was voted as having the best hair of any player in the history of MLS. Fans chose his curly golden mane as tops in a poll conducted on MLSnet.com in celebration of the league's 10th season.
The midfielder, who racked up 114 assists in 174 regular season games, ran away with the prize as nearly 50 percent of the poll respondents cast votes for him. Valderrama is recognized worldwide both for his billowing locks and his superb passing ability, which he put to good use while with the Tampa Bay Mutiny, Miami Fusion and Colorado Rapids during his six seasons in MLS.
The real race in this poll was for second prize. Cobi Jones' ever-growing dreadlocks and Clint Mathis' famous mohawk, resurrected this season for Real Salt Lake three years after first appearing in the 2002 World Cup, each received 11 percent of the vote.
Third place also ended in a tie as former U.S. national team star and current MetroStars general manager Alexi Lalas and ex-Fire striker Damani Ralph each took six percent. Lalas sported the rock-star look during his time on the field with long red hair and a ginger goatee to match. Ralph's impressive afro, a one-day affair on April 24, 2004, proved to be a good-luck charm as he scored the only goal of the game that day as his side defeated D.C. United at RFK Stadium.
The only other player to reach five percent in the poll was D.C. United's Bolivian playmaker Marco Etcheverry. His popular mullet was almost as famous as his left foot during his eight seasons in the nation's capital. Other players receiving votes in the poll were Leonel Alvarez, Marcelo Balboa, Jim Curtin, Dwayne De Rosario, Marcus Hahnemann, and Mike Petke.
Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
