Erling Haaland is the name on everybody’s lips this World Cup. From terrorising opposition defences during his time with Borussia Dortmund to turning the Premier League into his personal playground with Manchester City, the Norwegian striker has always been a force of nature. But this World Cup? He’s making defenders consider early retirement. Seven goals in five matches have propelled Norway to the quarter-finals in a historic moment — and that’s just him warming up.
When he’s not breaking scoring records, he’s breaking the internet with his designer bag collection, gloriously weird treasures (cue: his new taxidermy raccoon) and a digital footprint that makes people chuckle. The man, the myth, the Viking — here are 6 things you need to know about Erling Haaland.
1. Haaland has adopted a special diet and unique sleeping habits
It’s no secret that professional athletes have to maintain peak performance, and most are adhering to a strict regime. Haaland is no exception. The footballer’s diet reportedly includes heart and liver, while he uses mouth tape at night and blue-light glasses during the day to improve his quality of sleep.
2. Haaland sleeps with his match balls
Haaland has famously shared that he sleeps next to the footballs he’s scored a hat trick with. He jokingly called the balls his “girlfriends,” and each serves as a reminder of his achievements, pushing him to continue excelling at his position.
3. Haaland’s father also played for Manchester City
You may be wondering who the parents of the 195 cm striker are. Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge, had also played for Manchester City from 2000 to 2003, making the father–son duo a legacy at the club.
4. Haaland became a World Record holder at 5 years old
Long before his time in the Premier League and World Cup, Haaland was breaking records at 5. After 20 years, he is currently still the World Record holder for the standing long jump in the Under-6 age category. Looking back, his athleticism may have subtly foreshadowed his electric career in football.
5. Haaland was once a rapper
Haaland is a true jack of all trades and has seemingly lived so many lives —one of which was when he was part of a rap group called Flow Kingz. The songs were self-produced, and if you’re curious, you can still find the music video on YouTube.
6. Haaland plans to become a farmer after retirement
Haaland’s time with Manchester City is set to run until 2034 after he signed the record-breaking 9.5-year contract. Although time will only tell when he’ll retire, he’s said that his plans involve returning to his hometown of Byrne and living on a farm.
Editor
Phoebe KwanCredit
Lead Image: @erling via Instagram
