Hanoi [Vietnam], July 5: A fashion poll conducted alongside the 2026 World Cup is attracting attention as Cristiano Ronaldo unexpectedly received a score of 0.
During the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup , La Gazzetta dello Sport conducted a World Cup Fashion Poll, inviting renowned Italian fashion designer and critic Guillermo Mariotto to rate the off-field fashion styles of players and coaches on a scale of 10, as reported on page 163 on July 4th.
Italian fashion designer sparks controversy with World Cup fashion scorecard.
The most striking result was that Cristiano Ronaldo received only 0 points, the lowest score in the ranking. Commenting on the outfit Ronaldo wore when he arrived with the Portuguese national team at the match venue, Guillermo Mariotto said: "In my opinion, this is the worst outfit at the World Cup so far. In the photo, the only thing I like is the suitcase. Everything else is from high-end fashion brands; perhaps he has sponsorship deals with them."
He continued his criticism: "This shows that money absolutely cannot buy good taste. I heard this outfit cost over $1 million, but to me, it's nothing more than a million zeros."
Immediately after the review was published, a debate quickly erupted on social media. A segment of the audience agreed with Guillermo Mariotto's viewpoint, arguing that Ronaldo's style was too reliant on luxury brands, lacking personal flair and harmony in his outfit choices.
However, many people believe this assessment is unfair. According to them, the outfit Ronaldo wore was a work uniform provided by the sponsor for the entire Portuguese national team, not an outfit he chose or coordinated himself.
In contrast to Ronaldo, Lionel Messi received 8 points for his style, which is considered simple yet highly personal. Guillermo Mariotto commented: "In my opinion, Messi can wear whatever he wants. That comes from his extraordinary career achievements as well as his outstanding performance at this World Cup."
He believes Messi doesn't chase fashion trends but maintains his own style: "Everything is very minimalist, and minimalism always appeals to me. Deep down, he's still the boy from Rosario. I appreciate that consistency. Ronaldo should really learn from Messi."
Brazil's coach, Carlo Ancelotti, also received 8 points, the same as Messi. Guillermo Mariotto commented that the Italian strategist dressed elegantly, like "the father of the bride at a wedding," both neat and sophisticated. He also suggested that coaching the Brazilian national team has made Carlo Ancelotti's image more approachable and relaxed.
Germany's coach Julian Nagelsmann received a score of 0. Guillermo Mariotto argued that the youngest strategist at the 2026 World Cup showed no sense of style. He particularly criticized Nagelsmann's striped shirt as a "disaster," and commented that the black t-shirt in his subsequent outfit did not improve his image either.
Meanwhile, Austria's coach Ralf Rangnick also received zero points. Guillermo Mariotto argued that if Ronaldo was the worst-dressed player, then Ralf Rangnick was the worst-dressed coach in the tournament. According to him, the strategist tried to look youthful but chose a shirt that was too tight, making the overall look aesthetically unappealing.
US national team coach Mauricio Pochettino received a score of 2 points. Guillermo Mariotto found his blue-toned outfit unconvincing, while the shirt buttoned too high made the overall look stiff and lacking in sophistication.
Guillermo Mariotto is a veteran Italian fashion designer and critic, known for his blunt, insightful, and often humorous style of commentary. He served as a judge on the Italian version of Dancing with the Stars for many years and is a respected figure in the Italian fashion world.
Source: Thanh Nein Newspaper
