“Ro! Ro! Ro!” A chant that the whole world now recognizes and that perhaps represents the most iconic celebration of this 2026 World Cup. In every stadium, in every country, there’s one player above all others who has stolen the show: his name is Erling Braut Haaland. At 25 years old, he’s already scored hundreds of goals and won a Champions League title. Following in the footsteps of his father, Alf-Inge, a Manchester City player, he has led Norway to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years and, while playing for the Citizens, has already matched his father’s achievement by winning a Champions League title. And on Sunday, July 5, 2026, he also eliminated Brazil in the round of 16, achieving a historic result, having already outclassed Italy in the group stage.
The images of his two decisive—and brutal—goals have gone viral around the world, as has the Viking Row, which brings fans and players together on the field in an incredible celebration. And he is truly the leader of the pack. With that ponytail recommended by Ibrahimovic, that Viking-like build—ferocious on the field but kind off it. With a face that, while devilish when he smells a good ball, turns into that of a happy child during celebrations. But the reason Haaland is out of this world lies not only in his extraordinary talents on the field, but also off it. His eye for the world of fashion has brought him into the spotlight.
His style is spontaneous, irreverent, and personal, yet never seems contrived: a wardrobe that straddles classic technical sportswear and the contemporary “Scandi look.” Clean lines, neutral colors, a predominance of all-black, and a functional approach to clothing coexist with elements that break up the linearity of the aesthetic: caps, multicolored sneakers, and accessories that become instantly recognizable hallmarks. These are interspersed with the much-discussed Hermès bags, including Birkins and rare travel models like the HACs, transformed from simple luxury items into unexpected aesthetic statements within the context of athletic menswear. An ability to bridge styles that normally remain separate, but which, with Haaland—between one goal and the next—are the norm. And this even extends to the world of entertainment. Travis Scott wanted to take a photo with him; in the Nike commercial “Rip the Script,” there were actually two Erling Haalands: the second was played by none other than Channing Tatum. But there’s also a connection linking him to Kygo, the world-renowned DJ. In fact, at age 16, during a national youth team training camp, Erling—along with his teammates Erik Botheim and Erik Tobias Sandberg—created the song “Kygo Jo,” in which they rapped and sang over a track inspired by Kygo’s style.
The Norwegian DJ chimed in by adding his own track for Norway’s match against Brazil and promising to release it if Haaland scored against Brazil. Mission accomplished, given the outcome, with Norway advancing to the quarterfinals—a historic achievement.
[📸 Snapix; Instagram: erling]
