{"id":2013402,"date":"2026-06-26T08:52:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T05:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2013402"},"modified":"2026-06-26T08:52:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T05:52:00","slug":"why-erling-haaland-has-become-the-world-cups-most-entertaining-star","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2013402","title":{"rendered":"Why Erling Haaland has become the World Cup\u2019s most entertaining star"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/39\/34\/1200x675_cmsv2_f2c1104e-baba-599d-b805-0e56520ec901-9813934.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2905206-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2905206\" data-cid=\"9815215\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905206-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/50\/82\/189x106_cmsv2_0f16ca45-0c9c-5d16-b195-8075fea12da3-9815082.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Residents search through the rubble of homes damaged in the earthquake and aftershocks that struck La Guaira, Venezuela, on 25 June 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    World News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Help, we are trapped&#8217;: Venezuela victims cry out on TikTok\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905135-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2905135\" data-cid=\"9814624\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905135-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/19\/16\/74\/189x106_cmsv2_2fc07f4d-573a-5400-ad00-ccd357d5fb8d-9191674.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The exterior view of the European police agency Europol headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, 2 December 2016.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<p>                      <span class=\"c-icon-video the-media-object__icon\"><\/span><br \/>\n            <\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    New Europol report delves into EU&#8217;s most threatening criminal networks\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905220-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2905220\" data-cid=\"9815172\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905220-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/29\/28\/03\/189x106_cmsv2_9cf0dd24-0dcd-5c86-b306-a104c0b3bb1b-9292803.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The EES became fully operational as of 10 April, but has had a rocky rollout with calls to put the system on hold and airports requiring extra security to manage queues. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Travel News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Rome airports could suspend EES checks to avoid summer travel chaos\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905248-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2905248\" data-cid=\"9815352\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905248-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/53\/52\/189x106_cmsv2_d0a9cee3-3d0f-5bbc-857f-4d314ebe5a65-9815352.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Latest news bulletin | June 26th, 2026 \u2013 Evening\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<p>                      <span class=\"c-icon-video the-media-object__icon\"><\/span><br \/>\n            <\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Top News Stories Today<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Latest news bulletin | June 26th, 2026 \u2013 Evening\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905206-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2905206\" data-cid=\"9815215\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905206-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/50\/82\/189x106_cmsv2_0f16ca45-0c9c-5d16-b195-8075fea12da3-9815082.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Residents search through the rubble of homes damaged in the earthquake and aftershocks that struck La Guaira, Venezuela, on 25 June 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    World News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Help, we are trapped&#8217;: Venezuela victims cry out on TikTok\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905135-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2905135\" data-cid=\"9814624\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905135-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/19\/16\/74\/189x106_cmsv2_2fc07f4d-573a-5400-ad00-ccd357d5fb8d-9191674.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The exterior view of the European police agency Europol headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, 2 December 2016.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<p>                      <span class=\"c-icon-video the-media-object__icon\"><\/span><br \/>\n            <\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    New Europol report delves into EU&#8217;s most threatening criminal networks\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905220-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2905220\" data-cid=\"9815172\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905220-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/29\/28\/03\/189x106_cmsv2_9cf0dd24-0dcd-5c86-b306-a104c0b3bb1b-9292803.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The EES became fully operational as of 10 April, but has had a rocky rollout with calls to put the system on hold and airports requiring extra security to manage queues. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Travel News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Rome airports could suspend EES checks to avoid summer travel chaos\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905248-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2905248\" data-cid=\"9815352\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905248-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\">\n<p>      <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/53\/52\/189x106_cmsv2_d0a9cee3-3d0f-5bbc-857f-4d314ebe5a65-9815352.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Latest news bulletin | June 26th, 2026 \u2013 Evening\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/p>\n<p>                      <span class=\"c-icon-video the-media-object__icon\"><\/span><br \/>\n            <\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Top News Stories Today<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Latest news bulletin | June 26th, 2026 \u2013 Evening\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                      <span class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__separator u-chevron-ie-a\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>                          Culture<\/p>\n<p>                      <span class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__separator u-chevron-ie-a\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p>                          Culture news<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Why Erling Haaland has become the World Cup\u2019s most entertaining star<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\">\n<p>        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/39\/34\/1536x864_cmsv2_f2c1104e-baba-599d-b805-0e56520ec901-9813934.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Erling Haaland has brought unfiltered joy to a high-pressure World Cup\">\n    <\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\">\n  <span id=\"article-tooltip-svg\" class=\"c-article-caption__svg u-position-absolute\"><br \/>\n<\/span><br \/>\n  <i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Erling Haaland has brought unfiltered joy to a high-pressure World Cup<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n                              <span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><br \/>\n          <span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">AP Photo<\/span><br \/>\n                          <\/span><\/p>\n<p>  <\/i>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0AP Photo\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspCraig Saueurs\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1782463920\">\n                    Published on                 <time datetime=\"2026-06-26 10:52:00 +02:00\">26\/06\/2026 &#8211; 10:52 GMT+2<\/time><span class=\"c-article-publication-date__bullet\">\u2022<\/span>Updated<br \/>\n                                     <time datetime=\"17:01\">17:01<\/time>\n                                        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\">\n    <span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center 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                     <\/span><br \/>\n                                  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<p>                            <span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><br \/>\n                                      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/p>\n<p>                                                                                                    <span>Threads<\/span><br \/>\n                                                            <\/span><br \/>\n                                  <img decoding=\"async\" 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loading=\"lazy\"><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"tc-text-to-speech\" id=\"speakup-player\" data-twig-component=\"TextToSpeech-default\"><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Whether he&#8217;s posing as Norway&#8217;s &#8216;social media guy&#8217; or sharing candid shots in an infrared mask, Erling Haaland is winning over fans around the world.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content c-article-content--culture js-article-content\">\n<p>He sleeps with footballs. He ignores DMs from Tom Holland. He collects Birkin bags.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div data-ad-id=\"adzone-position\" data-ad-type=\"classic\" class=\"c-ad__adzone advertising mobile-content-1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><br \/>\n          <span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div data-ad-id=\"adzone-position\" data-ad-type=\"classic\" class=\"c-ad__adzone advertising adzone-block content-1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\">\n          <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><br \/>\n          <span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Erling Haaland arrived at the FIFA World Cup as one of the game\u2019s most feared strikers, and he will leave it as one of its most entertaining personalities.<\/p>\n<p>Between an irreverent social media presence, ironic encounters with fans and a seeming indifference to his own celebrity, Haaland has offered a refreshing alternative to the media-trained image we\u2019ve come to expect from sport stars. And in the span of a few weeks, he may have unwittingly created a whole new generation of Norway football fans.<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few reasons why the internet can\u2019t seem to get enough of Erling Haaland.<\/p>\n<div id=\"connatix-container-disabled\" class=\"connatix-container\">\n<div id=\"connatix-player-disabled\" data-ad-name=\"connatix\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><strong>He runs his own socials<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>When he\u2019s not scoring goals \u2013 and he\u2019s done a lot of that \u2013 Haaland has spent the World Cup documenting everything else on social media accounts that, somewhat remarkably, he still seems to control himself.<\/p>\n<p>Rather than scripted sponsored content, Haaland\u2019s tens of millions of followers have seen him eating at New York\u2019s legendary Katz\u2019s Delicatessen, slipping into an attempt at a Southern drawl and otherwise behaving like a 25-year-old travelling in the US.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n<div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"2067353119298642167\"><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In one widely shared clip, Haaland tells fans he\u2019s Norway\u2019s \u201csocial media guy\u201d before posing for photos.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-freeform\nwidget--size-fullwidth\nwidget--align-center\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-media-max-width=\"560\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Erling Haaland tricked a random lady into thinking he was just a regular guy by using an Southern accent while in the US for the World Cup, meanwhile a YouTube producer next to him acted like a professional football player \ud83d\ude2d<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;no not me, I&#8217;m the social media guy&#8221; pic.twitter.com\/xahS8nq31w<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 yoxic (@yoxics) June 24, 2026<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cNot even a soccer fan but i follow him, one of my favorite stories was just a bunch of pictures from practice with a picture of him in [an] infrared sauna with the caption \u2018infrared sauna\u2019 before and after,\u201d wrote one follower on <strong>Instagram<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>He collects Birkins<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Wouldn\u2019t you know it, Erlin Haaland is an avid collector of Herm\u00e8s Birkin bags. <\/p>\n<p>The revelation has prompted a fresh wave of double takes as new fans work their way through the ever-growing catalogue of Haaland facts.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n<div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"2069566914741899542\"><\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Fashion commentators have highlighted several of the rare bags he\u2019s been photographed with, including a black-and-orange HAC Casaque 40, an Evercalf Toile Cargo Haut \u00e0 Courroies 40 and an Endless Road HAC Birkin 50. <\/p>\n<p>All three are sought-after designs that have commanded tens of thousands of euros on the resale market. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>He\u2019s self-aware<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Few footballers seem happier to laugh at themselves than Erling Haaland. <\/p>\n<p>He has compared himself to Shrek, deadpanned with social media followers and talked about sleeping with footballs, taping his mouth shut at night and spending time in infrared saunas. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"1.2380952380952381\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/39\/34\/808x998_cmsv2_e8399c8b-7c83-505a-83de-db3f6ad711fe-9813934.jpg\" alt=\"Self-deprecating humour is one of Erling Haaland&apos;s many charms\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n                        <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><br \/>\n                            <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Self-deprecating humour is one of Erling Haaland&#8217;s many charms<\/span><br \/>\n                                    <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Snapchat \/ Erling Haaland<\/span><br \/>\n                        <\/span><br \/>\n                    <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>One of the more unlikely stories to resurface during the World Cup involves Haaland ignoring Spider-Man.<\/p>\n<p>On Logan Paul\u2019s Impaulsive podcast earlier this year, Haaland explained that he once received a direct message from the Spider-Man star \u2013 and ignored it because he had no idea who Tom Holland was.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI didn\u2019t know who it was,\u201d he admitted. \u201cIt\u2019s a bit embarrassing.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>He\u2019s having a good time<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Unlike some of the sport\u2019s more tightly wound figures, Haaland seems to be genuinely having fun in the pressure cooker that is the World Cup.<\/p>\n<p>After reaching the knockout stages, Haaland and some of his teammates joined Norway supporters in the now-famous Viking row celebrations. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-freeform\nwidget--size-fullwidth\nwidget--align-center\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DZ7ymbXvMdt\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A post shared by Erling Braut Haaland (@erling)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> Then, when asked about a decisive group match against France, he said they would \u201cprobably win\u201d \u2013 before adding that France would \u201cprobably win the whole thing\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>At a World Cup full of polished soundbites, Haaland has rarely sounded like he\u2019s reading from the same script twice. Everyone should be able to appreciate that.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Norway face France on Friday night at 9pm CET.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\">\n    <span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><\/p>\n<p>      <span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><br \/>\n    <\/span><\/p>\n<p>        <span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><\/p>\n<p>        <span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div 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src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><br \/>\n        <span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div data-ad-id=\"adzone-position\" data-ad-type=\"classic\" class=\"c-ad__adzone advertising optidigital-bottom-1\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><br \/>\n          <span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2905151-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 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He ignores DMs from Tom Holland. He collects Birkin bags.Erling Haaland arrived at the FIFA World Cup as one of the game\u2019s most feared strikers, and he will leave it as one of its most entertaining personalities.Between an irreverent social media presence, ironic encounters with fans and a seeming indifference to his own celebrity, Haaland has offered a refreshing alternative to the media-trained image we\u2019ve come to expect from sport stars. And in the span of a few weeks, he may have unwittingly created a whole new generation of Norway football fans.Here are a few reasons why the internet can\u2019t seem to get enough of Erling Haaland.He runs his own socialsWhen he\u2019s not scoring goals \u2013 and he\u2019s done a lot of that \u2013 Haaland has spent the World Cup documenting everything else on social media accounts that, somewhat remarkably, he still seems to control himself.Rather than scripted sponsored content, Haaland\u2019s tens of millions of followers have seen him eating at New York\u2019s legendary Katz\u2019s Delicatessen, slipping into an attempt at a Southern drawl and otherwise behaving like a 25-year-old travelling in the US.In one widely shared clip, Haaland tells fans he\u2019s Norway\u2019s \u201csocial media guy\u201d before posing for photos.\u201cNot even a soccer fan but i follow him, one of my favorite stories was just a bunch of pictures from practice with a picture of him in [an] infrared sauna with the caption \u2018infrared sauna\u2019 before and after,\u201d wrote one follower on Instagram.He collects BirkinsWouldn\u2019t you know it, Erlin Haaland is an avid collector of Herm\u00e8s Birkin bags.The revelation has prompted a fresh wave of double takes as new fans work their way through the ever-growing catalogue of Haaland facts.Fashion commentators have highlighted several of the rare bags he\u2019s been photographed with, including a black-and-orange HAC Casaque 40, an Evercalf Toile Cargo Haut \u00e0 Courroies 40 and an Endless Road HAC Birkin 50.All three are sought-after designs that have commanded tens of thousands of euros on the resale market.He\u2019s self-awareFew footballers seem happier to laugh at themselves than Erling Haaland.He has compared himself to Shrek, deadpanned with social media followers and talked about sleeping with footballs, taping his mouth shut at night and spending time in infrared saunas. \u00a0One of the more unlikely stories to resurface during the World Cup involves Haaland ignoring Spider-Man.On Logan Paul\u2019s Impaulsive podcast earlier this year, Haaland explained that he once received a direct message from the Spider-Man star \u2013 and ignored it because he had no idea who Tom Holland was.\u201cI didn\u2019t know who it was,\u201d he admitted. \u201cIt\u2019s a bit embarrassing.\u201dHe\u2019s having a good timeUnlike some of the sport\u2019s more tightly wound figures, Haaland seems to be genuinely having fun in the pressure cooker that is the World Cup.After reaching the knockout stages, Haaland and some of his teammates joined Norway supporters in the now-famous Viking row celebrations.Then, when asked about a decisive group match against France, he said they would \u201cprobably win\u201d \u2013 before adding that France would \u201cprobably win the whole thing\u201d.At a World Cup full of polished soundbites, Haaland has rarely sounded like he\u2019s reading from the same script twice. Everyone should be able to appreciate that.Norway face France on Friday night at 9pm CET.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2026\/06\/26\/why-erling-haaland-has-become-the-world-cups-most-entertaining-star&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/39\/34\/1200x675_cmsv2_f2c1104e-baba-599d-b805-0e56520ec901-9813934.jpg&#8221;] World News Help, we are trapped&#8217;: Venezuela victims cry out on TikTok Europe News New Europol report delves into EU&#8217;s most threatening criminal networks Travel News Rome airports could suspend EES checks to avoid summer travel chaos Top News Stories Today Latest news bulletin | June 26th, 2026 \u2013 Evening World News [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2013402","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2013402","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2013402"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2013402\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2013402"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2013402"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2013402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}