A photo of Gonzalo Higuain in a Miami store has everyone talking. The former Real Madrid forward appears with a huge beard and a very different look. Some doubt whether it is really him.
The image attributed to Gonzalo Higuain has lit up social media in recent hours. In the photograph, the supposed former Argentine forward appears in a sporting goods store in Miami, with a very bushy beard, a sleeveless shirt, and comfortable clothes.
An image far removed from that recognizable figure who scored goals for years at River, Real Madrid, Napoli, Juventus, Milan, Chelsea, Inter Miami, and the Argentine national team.
The snapshot has spread like wildfire because of the striking physical change. The noise is not so much about the passage of time, which is normal for any retired athlete, but rather about that unkempt appearance that many users have highlighted on social media.
The conversation grew quickly and stopped focusing only on his appearance: some fans began to question the very veracity of the photo, surprised to see ‘Pipita’ in such a different state from his final years as a professional footballer.
Higuain announced his retirement at the end of the 2022 season with Inter Miami, after more than 17 years in the game and more than 300 goals across clubs and the national team, according to the US club itself at the time. Since then, the Argentine has lived a much more discreet life, away from the competitive spotlight and that daily exposure that accompanies the great football stars.
Nor is it the first time that a look change by the Argentine forward has caused a stir on the internet. Back in 2021, during his time at Inter Miami, his bushy beard and hair loss generated comments, memes, and jokes on social media, turning his image into viral material. Now, the scene repeats itself with a photo that some take at face value, and others examine closely.
The scene has all the ingredients of modern virality: a recognizable star, an unexpected image, an everyday context, and a question that quickly ignites on social media: Is it really Higuain? The lack of official confirmation fuels suspicion.
Some users point to the lighting, the angle, or even possible image manipulation. Others see it more simply: a photograph of a former footballer who left behind the extreme discipline of high performance and lives his new stage naturally.
The photo has brought Higuain back into the public eye for reasons very different from those that defined his career. Before, people talked about his goals, his finals, his failures, his character, or his weight on the Argentine national team. Now, social media is debating a supposed casual image taken in Miami, in the aisle of a sporting goods store.
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