Marouane Fellaini's afro was one of the few constants in this ever-changing world. Instagram @fellaini

Having recently missed out on the latest Belgium squad, Marouane Fellaini decided to perk himself up by staying at home and treating himself to a bold new makeover.

A week or so before his 31st birthday, Fellaini has streamlined his look by shaving off the dense mound of wiry hair that he's been proudly sporting (and sprouting) atop his head for the past decade or more.

Looking several pounds lighter, the Manchester United midfielder debuted his utilitarian 'do on Instagram along with the caption "new year, new look."

It's not so much a new year as a new era. From henceforth, the annals of history will be bisected into events that happened Before Fellaini's Cut (or "B.C." for short) and After Fellaini's De-fuzzing ("A.D.")

Obviously the first question is how and why did Fellaini get his hair cut at what appears to be his local dentist/doctor's surgery?

The second question is how are we, as a global populace, supposed to move on from this seismic, world-altering turn of events?

Still, one thing we know for sure is that it beats the Mickey Mouse-style bunches he rocked in a photoshoot for GQ earlier this year.

Fellaini's international teammate Axel Witsel was clearly happy to discover he had become Belgium's afro king by default.

Never ones to let an opportunity for some online banter pass them by, Roma weighed in by claiming that Aleksandar Kolarov had inherited Fellaini's off-cuts.

✂️ Pleased to report Marouane Fellaini's hair has turned up safe and well 🙏😂 pic.twitter.com/TWHesE7fXW — AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) November 14, 2018

But, sadly, we have to admit that it's farewell to the Fellaini 'fro. Hello, brave new world.