Wayne Rooney’s recent hair transplant sparked the question, why is appearance so important for footballers? It seems that “the celebrity” has become more important than the actual player. With constant media exposure, whether it is for affairs or salaries, one thing is for sure: footballers make the headlines. It’s not surprising that men who are in the public eye would become self-conscious. But for some footballers image seems to have taken on a life of its own.

Rooney recently posted a picture of his post-surgery locks on the social networking site Twitter stating “Hi all there’s my head. It will take a few months to grow. Still a bit bloody to. But that’s all normal. #hairwego.”

He also defended his decision by saying: “I was going bald at 25 why not. I’m delighted with the results.”

The Manchester United player reportedly paid £30,000 to Queen Anne Street Medical Centre in Central London, in order to sport a fuller head of hair.

With money to burn due to his £150,000 a week salary, this may not have seemed much for the young star but in reality it’s an extravagant amount to spend on one’s appearance. Would any man who had this kind of money do the same or is it simply the pressure of the limelight? It’s hard to say but either way Rooney decided that he would prefer to be teased for being vain than for being bald.

The man who began the “celebrity” footballer movement, David Beckham, has become recognisable all over the world for much more than his skills on the pitch. With years of sporting different hairstyles and outfits under his belt, he is the epitome of metrosexual. Beckham and his wife Victoria took the world by storm dominating many fields, including fashion and fragrances.

They promote a lavish lifestyle and immaculate appearance that is craved by so many young people. While a footballer needs a certain amount of talent to gain this kind of status, any girl linked to a footballer almost becomes a “celebrity” in her own right or will at least get her “15 minutes of fame”.

Being a footballer has become so much more than the sport, it’s a way of life. It is about who you are and what you have. The lifestyle portrays beautiful people with beautiful things. Is it any wonder that Rooney feels the need to worry about his appearance?