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Erling Haaland Is Norway’s World Cup Machine — and the Internet’s Favorite Meme
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Sports

Erling Haaland Is Norway’s World Cup Machine — and the Internet’s Favorite Meme

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Norwegian soccer player Erling Haaland has become a social media phenomenon, combining elite skills with a quirky online persona.
  • His physical presence on the field contrasts with his playful and self-deprecating online interactions, fueling his popularity.
  • Haaland's embrace of memes and fan engagement, including witty responses to online comparisons, has amplified his fame beyond the sport.

Erling Haaland, the towering Norwegian soccer star, is not just a scoring machine on the field but also a burgeoning internet sensation. His imposing 6-foot-5 stature and undeniable talent on the pitch are increasingly complemented by a vibrant and often humorous online presence, captivating fans worldwide.

Him being really, really talented, that’s the first pillar of it all. And then you find out that he’s 25 years old and he’s probably the most Gen Z athlete in the World Cup.

— Sarah WilsonSarah Wilson, a baseball content creator in New York, explains the appeal of Haaland's combination of elite skills and youthful online persona.

Haaland's appeal extends beyond his seven goals in four World Cup matches. His social media activity, featuring everything from Snapchat-filtered selfies to witty responses to viral memes, has transformed even casual observers into devoted fans. This duality, the dominant athlete versus the playful personality, has led to him being affectionately dubbed the "babygirl" online, a term used for endearing male celebrities who exhibit sensitivity or vulnerability.

This phenomenon highlights a broader trend of athletes transcending sports to become pop culture figures, largely through their curated off-field personas. Sarah Wilson, a content creator, notes that Haaland's "quirky personality" is a key factor in his intense fame. "Him being really, really talented, that’s the first pillar of it all. And then you find out that he’s probably the most Gen Z athlete in the World Cup," she told The Associated Press, pointing to his use of platforms like Snapchat.

I think it’s a good thing because I like the Americans. I think they are kind of hilarious as well. They are funny. I like the way they are.

— Erling HaalandHaaland discusses his positive reception in the U.S. during a team news conference.

Haaland actively leans into this virality. He has shared cheeky selfies after significant matches, posted vlogs on YouTube, and engaged with fans on Snapchat, often with a self-deprecating humor. His responses to online comparisons, such as a video likening his hair to green onion roots or a Google search animation of a Viking row, have garnered millions of views and further cemented his meme status. He recently expressed his enjoyment of this reception in the U.S., calling the World Cup experience "amazing" and finding Americans "hilarious."

I think it's just good and honestly, on every single thing, the World Cup so far here has been amazing.

— Erling HaalandHaaland shares his overall positive experience at the World Cup in the U.S.
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Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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