Former football player Landon Donovan started experiencing hair loss from a young age. Though he has tried treatments including a hair transplant, medical and surgical interventions didn’t work, leading Landon Donovan to get a hair system to conceal his male pattern baldness.
Here, we explore Landon Donovan’s hair changes over his career, and what his case can tell us about the available treatments for hair loss, as well as the connection between hair loss and mental health.
Explore Landon Donovan’s hair loss journey, including his failed hair transplant attempts and his switch to a hair system.
As well as better understanding Landon Donovan’s hair loss journey, you’ll get insights into why hair transplants fail, how hair loss progresses, and guidance on choosing between hair transplants and non-surgical solutions for effective hair restoration.
Key takeaways
Landon Donovan began losing hair in his late teens/early 20s, with steady progression to advanced baldness.
He tried various treatments to tackle his hair loss, including a hair transplant, which ultimately failed.
Landon Donovan now uses a hair system to conceal his hair loss, giving him immediate cosmetic results.
He has been open about his experiences with hair loss, speaking candidly about his decision to get a hair system.
Both hair transplants and hair systems have distinct pros and cons, and work well for patients with different needs.
Landon Donovan is a former footballer from California, USA. Now retired, he was a decorated forward and is widely regarded as one of the best U.S. players of all time. He has since worked as a coach, pundit, and broadcaster.
Landon Donovan has been open about his struggles with hair loss, posting several videos to social media discussing the treatments he’s tried to tackle male pattern baldness, including a hair transplant.
However, Landon Donovan’s hair transplant ultimately failed, leaving him with a significantly receding hairline and no evidence of hair restoration. As a result, he has more recently opted for a male hair system to create the appearance of fuller, thicker hair.
Landon Donovan has said he started losing his hair at a young age, around 18-20. Although it’s not unheard of for people younger than 20 to have a receding hairline, it isn’t typical. According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the onset of male pattern baldness is normally between 20 and 25 [1]. Around 30% of men are affected by the age of 30.
Photos from early in Landon Donovan’s career show some visible temple hair loss at the age of 22:
Unfortunately, Landon’s hair has receded much further since then, and he now has substantial thinning across his scalp. Based on the Norwood Scale, Landon Donovan’s hair loss is approaching Norwood stage 6, with significant hair loss through the mid-scalp and crown:
The changes in Landon Donovan’s hair have been fairly high profile, especially in recent years, when visible evidence of a hair transplant hit the headlines. So let’s take a closer look at how his hair loss has developed over time, and what Landon Donovan’s hair looks like these days.
Landon Donovan began his playing career with a fairly full head of hair, although there were some early signs of hair loss even in his early 20s. But by 2011, at the age of 29, his hairline had receded further, resulting in an M-shaped hairline that’s typical for men with advancing male pattern baldness.
It’s unclear what treatments (if any) Donovan had used to control his hair loss at this point, as he has recently referenced trying many different hair loss solutions to restore his hair.
Between 2005 and 2009, finasteride was banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, so many footballers would have been restricted to non-hormonal treatments (such as minoxidil) during this time [2]. This may be why Landon’s hair loss progressed rapidly, although he hasn’t discussed his use of medical therapies for hair loss publicly.
Finasteride has also been linked with depression [3-4]. Landon Donovan has spoken candidly about his experiences with depression and other mental health concerns in recent years, so this may also have influenced his treatment choices.
Just 3 years later, Landon Donovan’s hairline had receded further still, reaching Norwood stage 3 at the age of 32.
Landon Donovan temporarily retired from football in 2014, but returned to the game twice to resume his playing career.
In 2019, at the age of 37, Landon Donovan debuted for the San Diego Sockers. In this promo video, you can see that his hair loss had progressed even more by this late stage of his career, reaching Norwood stage 4:
Since retiring from football for good in 2019, Landon Donovan has begun a media career as a pundit and broadcaster. During an appearance as a pundit at the 2024 Euros, an unfortunate styling choice drew attention to Landon Donovan’s recent hair transplant procedure:
In an exchange with former teammate Mike Magee, Landon confirmed he’d had a hair transplant 2 weeks earlier and was assured it wouldn’t be visible on camera. Unfortunately — as Landon discovered — there’s normally still evidence of the procedure 2 weeks after a hair transplant, even though most hair transplant scabs have cleared up by then.
In a 2025 Instagram post, Landon Donovan crowdsourced opinions about getting a hair system to disguise his frontal balding:
“Since I was 18, 19, 20, I’ve been dealing with [hair loss]. I’ve tried everything. Tried the hair transplant treatment here [on the hairline], tried it back here [on the crown]. Nothing’s worked. My options now are to shave it bald. I don’t want to do that. Not an option for me. Or leave it as it is. Not an option right now.
Or I can try the last thing which is a hair system, which is basically a wig, to see if that works. So that’s what I’m thinking about doing.”
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Landon Donovan (@landondonovan10)
A post shared by Landon Donovan (@landondonovan10)
Just a few weeks later, he was seen sporting a full head of hair, thanks to a hair system. Wearing the system in a follow up video, Landon Donovan said:
“I had no idea how many people were dealing with [hair loss], struggling with it. I’ve had thousands of messages from you guys and I really appreciate the support. And to everybody who is struggling with hair loss, it’s OK to be vulnerable. Be brave.
“I’m loving [my hair system]. Still taking getting used to, but I’m really loving it.”
It’s not clear exactly why Landon Donovan’s hair grafts didn’t take, as he hasn’t revealed any further information other than that it didn’t work.
Hair transplant failure is usually due to poor surgical technique, poor candidate selection, or inadequate aftercare. So it may be that Landon Donovan wasn’t a good candidate for a hair transplant in the first place, or that his results were hampered by his surgeon’s experience.
In the video below, our patient advisor Mihir explains how you can maximise the chance of hair transplant success:
A hair system is a hairpiece made of human or synthetic hair that’s glued to the scalp, giving natural-looking coverage for approximately 4 to 6 months. For the hair system to adhere fully to the scalp, your hair needs to be completely shaved across the hairline, mid-scalp, and crown.
Landon Donovan posted a video of his hair system being attached to his scalp on Instagram:
A hair system can give you excellent coverage if you’re not a good candidate for a hair transplant, or if your previous procedures have failed, like in Landon’s case.
Both hair transplants and hair systems are great options for those affected by hair loss, though each has distinct benefits and downsides:
If you’re unsure if a hair transplant or hair system is right for you, it’s best to seek professional advice. Book a free hair transplant consultation at a reputable clinic to find out if you’re eligible, and discuss hair system installation with a trained, experienced barber.
Deciding on the right course of action when you’re dealing with hair loss isn’t easy. Even celebrities like Landon Donovan aren’t immune to the possibility of hair transplant failure, so it’s good news that alternative treatments like hair systems are available.
That said, a successful hair transplant can also improve your confidence and give your mental wellbeing a boost if you’re emotionally affected by hair loss. Major League Soccer player and Wimpole Clinic hair transplant patient Rob Holding reported better mental health after getting his hair restored at our London clinic:
“I struggled so much with my hair and self-confidence. I have had so many messages about where I had my procedure. The Wimpole Clinic in London treated me so well and I am so happy with the results.
“I’ve had so many messages from other people affected by [similar] mental health issues and self-confidence issues, I couldn’t recommend this place enough!”
A hair transplant is often the preferred choice of people with male pattern baldness, as it restores your natural hair rather than simply covering up your thinning. A hair transplant may be the right option for you if:
If you’re considering a hair transplant and want an expert opinion on your potential outcomes, book a consultation at the Wimpole Clinic.
At our award-winning hair transplant clinic, we always put our patients’ interests first, so you can get impartial, honest advice from some of the UK’s best hair transplant surgeons and most experienced patient advisors.
We have hair transplant clinic locations across the UK, so choose your most convenient clinic and book your consultation today.
Learn more about footballer hair transplants and what you can do about a receding hairline in these frequently asked questions.
People with a receding hairline have lots of options available to them, though treatment outcomes will vary from patient to patient. Those in the early stages of hair loss may see success with finasteride and minoxidil, while those with more extensive hair loss will want to consider FUE or FUT, or non-surgical alternatives.
Unlike a wig, which is designed to be removed at the end of each day (or possibly even more frequently), a hair system is designed for long-term wear. It’s glued to your scalp using a strong adhesive, whereas a wig is normally worn over the top of your existing hair.
Both hair systems and wigs can be made from human hair for a more natural-looking appearance compared with synthetic hairpieces.
If your hair transplant goes wrong, it can feel disheartening. But you do have some options. A hair system or hair replacement service can offer temporary results, while a second hair transplant may also be possible in some cases.
If you’ve used up most of your scalp donor hair, it may be possible to supplement another procedure with grafts from your beard or chest in a body hair transplant.
Discuss your options with a hair transplant specialist in a dedicated consultation to find out which is most suitable for you.
Landon Donovan is far from the first footballer to have had a hair transplant. Dozens of other players have come forward to reveal their hair transplants, while more still are rumoured to have undergone surgery.
Jason Cundy revealed his hair transplant from the Wimpole Clinic in March 2026, while Danny Ings’s hair transplant also took place here.
Read more about other footballers who are known or rumoured to have had hair transplant surgery:
Wimpole Clinic Services:
Hair Transplants, Beard Transplants & Eyebrow Transplants.
Talk to a specialist
Dr Harpreet Kalra (GMC: 7126076) is a hair transplant specialist and GP based in our Newcastle hair transplant clinic. Born in Scandinavia, Dr Kalra qualified as a doctor in Denmark in 2007, and was subsequently trained as a hair transplant surgeon by Dr Kapil Dua in 2012 (President of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery). He is registered with the General Medical Council.
Dr Kalra is an expert hair transplant surgeon with a comprehensive grasp of advanced hair restoration techniques, including FUE and FUT. With his profound commitment to patient welfare, medical innovation, and professional development, Dr Kalra has restored the confidence of hundreds of patients struggling with hair loss.
In addition to his role as a hair transplant consultant at the Wimpole Clinic, Dr Kalra is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) and is a practising GP in the UK. Beyond clinical practice, he is an active participant in medical seminars, conferences and workshops, underscoring his dedication to advancing healthcare and improving patient outcomes across the UK.
