The FOX News camera panned close to the seat. The shopkeeper, standing nearby, pointed: "Erling Haaland sat right here." Then the ABC News cameraman stood in front of the steps where the Norwegian striker had once stood to take an Instagram photo. "These are the same steps," the shopkeeper confirmed.
A chair. A few steps. An unremarkable shop. But simply because Haaland stopped by after scoring the winning goal that eliminated Ivory Coast in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup , it all suddenly became a "famous landmark".
Haaland's style is emulated by many fans. Photo: FIFA.
The world of football has seen many stars rise to prominence thanks to the World Cup. Even rarer is a player who was already famous taking their fame to another level right in the middle of the tournament.
That seems to be what's happening with Erling Haaland. After each match, the 25-year-old striker rarely cultivates the image that superstars typically project. He doesn't post elaborately staged photos, doesn't deliver lengthy philosophical speeches, and doesn't try to create a perfect image.