Misdirection 101 from (Real) Ronaldo

As we move to the other World Cup semifinal tonight, it's worth remembering that football is never only about football. Brazil's Ronaldo - the Ronaldo, a.k.a. Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima, not that Portuguese guy - pulled off one of the greatest tactical masterstrokes of the modern era. No, not a Cruyff turn, or a no-look finish, but an unforgettable haircut. Before Brazil's 2002 World Cup semifinal against Turkiye, the striker appeared with a bizarre triangular tuft of hair perched on his otherwise shaved head. The world's media, till then obsessing with his injury record, suddenly forgot ligaments and began debating about his selective tonsuring.

It was brilliant Media Distraction 101. While journos scribbled furiously about Ronaldo's 'Cascao cut' - named after a perpetually dirty comic book character bearing that hairstyle - he went on to score the winning goal against Turkiye, then both goals in the final against Germany, delivering Brazil its fifth World Cup. The haircut was not fashion but brilliant misdirection worthy of a Garrincha. Politicians, why bother with policy when you can have the press chase contestations in history, or nomenclatural changes. Corporate leaders, why worry about dipping quarterly results when you can 'MoU the lawn'. Control the narrative by extolling silliness and throwing a distracting Frisbee in the park.