There’s One Reason Why Erling Haaland Was the Heart of This World Cup

MIAMI — There was one song stuck on replay in everyone’s heads this summer, set to the soundtrack of a late 1970s German disco pop song. It goes something like this: Haaland, Haaland, Vikings in the U.S.A, Norway’s going all the way, Ha-Ha-Ha-Haaland, hey! Haaland, Haaland, Man-made Nordic Superman Stop him scoring if you can, Ha-Ha-Ha-Haaland, hey! Haaland, Haaland, Run so mad, it won’t go well, No Champions League for Gabriel, Ha-Ha-Ha-Haaland, hey! Norwegian star striker Erling Haaland flooded minds, went viral on social media and enraptured hearts across North America at the 2026 World Cup. When the 6'5", broad-shouldered Haaland came barreling into the opponent’s box, defenders physically quaked, as if he were actually wearing steel plate armor and preparing to lob a hand axe. Nevertheless, the 25-year-old’s quick ascent was only partially due to his stereotypical “Viking” image and the unfathomable amount of goals he scored in his debut on soccer’s grandest stage. Despite Norway’s quarterfinal exit to England on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium, Haaland will remain the tournament’s most beloved player. For all of his obvious differences, there is actually a little bit of him in every one of us. The Irony of Erling Haaland Haaland isn’t just so much a striker as he is a predator. He stalks the pitch, sticking his long neck out and puffing his broad chest, zeroing in and waiting to pounce as soon as the ball breaks free. It is quiet and utterly terrifying. His long, luscious blonde locks stream behind him when he kicks into high gear, racing toward the net. Haaland had seven goals this summer across just six matches. He had scored in 14 consecutive competitive games for Norway before the quarterfinal. Although Haaland had an uncharacteristically anonymous outing against England, managing just one shot on target in the 2–1 extra-time loss, only Argentina’s Lionel Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappé still top him in the Golden Boot race. Haaland may be a tough and hardened Viking, but he is equally soft and goofy. He packed a whole roll of hair ties in his World Cup suitcase to ensure that he always wore one that perfectly matched his uniforms. He is Gen Z’s Rapunzel. His luggage includes a luxury collection of oversized Hermes Birkin bags, of which he owns at least seven. “He’s like a beast, but then he is also such a diva,” Norwegian fan Judith tells Sports Illustrated before the match. “He cares about his hair.” His presence on Snapchat has left supporters in fits of laughter, engaging with fans’ probing questions and using the app’s various filters, such as the Shrek one. Simply put, Haaland is layered in a way that resonated with people. He is also incredibly blunt, to a degree that most people would only dream of. It was both comedic and deeply relatable. “He’s very honest,” Nore and Viktoria, Norwegian sisters from Oslo, say. “He says what he really thinks, so that attracts people to him.” In an interview with Time magazine last year, Haaland said Norway had just a 0.5% chance of winning the World Cup and continually insisted that his side’s chances remained “really low” in the lead-up to the England clash. He wrote his side off against France in the group stage, before admitting that his team had “very slim” odds of toppling five-time world champion Brazil in the round of 16. Haaland subsequently scored two goals in the span of 11 minutes to down the mighty Seleção. Haaland’s bluntness should not be mistaken for pessimism, though. He just simply doesn’t care—he is not careless, but rather, care-free. Who cared if Norway had the slimmest odds of winning? He was having fun anyways. It was a sentiment that supporters all across North America found refreshing. “One thing in life, don’t take yourself too seriously,” he said on hisYouTube channel, which he started back in October and has since used to share his goofy personality. “No matter what happens, just have a laugh. Don’t be so serious. Just enjoy it.”