‘After all these years.’
Wilfried Zaha and Jesse Lingard have both had a long-overdue virtual haircut, thanks to an update to Fifa 19 by creators EA Sports.
The footballers appealed to the gaming company in August, with Manchester United’s Lingard posting: “Can you change my haircut now please had the same trim on your game for 99 years.”
Now finally the 25-year-old pair have had their calls answered, after an update to Fifa 19 saw the pair receiving trims closer to real life.
(Screengrab/EA Sports)
(Screengrab/EA Sports)
Posting images of their new dos to Twitter, the pair seemed pretty happy with EA Sports’ work despite the wait.
“Finally after all these years,” wrote Lingard, while Crystal Palace forward Zaha put: “About time.”
It’s been a long road for the two of them, with Lingard even commending the game creators for adding his trademark celebration, the JLingz, but ruing the lack of an up-to-date hairstyle.
While EA Sports were working out the updates however, their competition Pro Evolution Soccer commented on Zaha’s first post on the topic, letting him know he could find his haircut in the Konami game.
Always good to know you’ve got options.
Zaha’s Palace play next on Saturday at home to Tottenham, while Lingard’s United travel to local rivals Manchester City on Sunday following the Red Devils’ shock victory at Juventus in the Champions League.
MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) — Ivory Coast teenager Yan Diomande is remarkably unfazed by reports he could be a 100-million-euro ($116 million) signing for one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
The 19-year-old Diomande has made an impressive start to the Africa Cup of Nations and says he is fully focused on helping the Elephants defend their title.
“I want to win this competition, this is my biggest dream, and then after go back to my club and try to play there and (learn) everything and play in the Champions League. This is my dream,” Diomande told The Associated Press in Marrakech this week.
Diomande, who joined German team Leipzig in the summer, has been linked with Bundesliga rival Bayern Munich, Premier League sides Arsenal and Manchester United, as well as European champion Paris Saint-Germain.
But they are likely to meet strong resistance from Leipzig, which is healthy financially after big-money sales in recent years and has ambitions of its own after missing out on European qualification last season.
Diomande himself says he’s in no hurry to leave.
“For now, I’m happy there,” Diomande said of Leipzig. “Everyone likes me there and I’m enjoying there. I’m not looking at everything (happening) around me. I am trying to stay focused on my road. I’m trying to focus on my way. Trying to be concentrated on my club.”
Strong, with explosive pace, Diomande already has six goals and set up three more in 14 Bundesliga appearances for Leipzig. He broke his nose in a win over Werder Bremen in November and needs to wear a protective mask.
Leipzig, which is backed by energy drinks manufacturer Red Bull, signed Diomande from Spanish side Leganés, where he spent one season and made 10 La Liga appearances including his debut against Real Madrid. He joined Leganés after moving from Florida-based AS Frenzi.
“I had to work for long and I had to travel to a lot of countries for this, and today I’m making my dream true, so I’m very proud,” Diomande said of his early travels.
Including his goal in the 3-0 win over Burkina Faso in the Africa Cup last 16, he has three in eight appearances for Ivory Coast. He scored twice in World Cup qualifying and can look forward to a return to the United States for this summer’s tournament.
“I studied there, I went to USA. It’s gonna be good to be back there, to see my friends, to see the countries, and enjoy the World Cup,” he said.
But first, there’s the Africa Cup, where defending champion Ivory Coast faces seven-time champion Egypt in the quarterfinals on Saturday before a potential semifinal against Senegal on Wednesday.
“It’s going to get harder but we are ready and we’re confident," Diomande said. “We’re going to go there and try to fight, have a good spirit, a good mentality and win.”
AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations
Ivory Coast's Yan Diomande is challenged by Cameroon's Junior Che Malone during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Ivory Coast and Cameroon, in Marrakech, Morocco, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Burkina Faso's Steeve Yago, right, challenges Ivory Coast's Yan Diomande during the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in Marrakech, Morocco, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Burkina Faso's Issa Kabore, right, challenges Ivory Coast's Yan Diomande during the Africa Cup of Nations best of 16 soccer match between Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in Marrakech, Morocco, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
