“Trevor from GTA V?” – Fans stunned as Gonzalo Higuaín, once Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi’s rival, looks unrecognisable in rare public appearance

Football fans around the world were left stunned after a recent photo of former striker Gonzalo Higuaín surfaced online. The ex-Real Madrid and Argentina star has stayed away from the spotlight since retiring in 2022. Because of his long absence from social media and public events, many people were surprised to see how different he now looks compared to his playing days.The 38-year-old was spotted in Miami posing casually with a fan in a store. The image quickly went viral, with thousands of reactions pouring in across social media. Many users struggled to recognise the once-famous striker. His new look, featuring a rugged beard and a more relaxed style, sparked debate among fans. His fans remember him as one of the sharpest forwards of his generation.The viral image triggered strong reactions online, with many fans expressing disbelief at how much Gonzalo Higuaín has changed. A fan wrote, "That's Trevor from GTA V", hinting that he looked more like a video game character than a former football star. Another wrote, "what happened to him?", while others questioned how drastically his appearance had changed in just a few years. A few comments even compared him to a rough-looking character, suggesting he appeared far removed from his polished playing days. One wrote, "He used to give fight to Ronaldo and Messi, what happened to him". Some fans even reacted with shocked emojis.While many former football stars like Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimović, and David Beckham have stayed super fit and stylish even after retirement, Gonzalo Higuaín seems to be enjoying life at a much slower pace. He now prefers comfort over style. His relaxed look is very different from his previous sharp clean image.But even though his appearance has changed, his football career still speaks for itself. Higuaín played over 700 matches and scored more than 300 goals. He started his journey at River Plate before making a big move to Europe. There, he played for top clubs like Napoli, Juventus, and AC Milan. He even had a short stint at Chelsea under Maurizio Sarri.He finally called time on his career with Inter Miami at the age of 34. So yes, his latest look may have caught fans off guard, but what he achieved on the field is what truly defines him and that hasn’t changed at all.