Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has won a new army of fans in the United States after starring at the World Cup
Norway forward Erling Haaland (9) waves to fans afte rleaving the pitch following the FIFA World Cup Quarter-Final between Norway and England
Erling Haaland bowed out of the World Cup with Norway after player and country won a new army of followers(Image: Getty)
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In the end, it was not the night that Erling Haaland and Norway wanted. The underdogs against England needed everything to go their way and most of the tight margins went the way of Thomas Tuchel's side instead.
After their best ever run in a major tournament though, Norway exited the competition with pride and unity. What could have been a flashpoint in coach Stale Solbakken taking Haaland off after the first period of extra time when they needed a goal was defused afterwards by the star striker saying he was done after 70 minutes.
Manchester City will be proud of what Haaland has achieved with his country, leaving his mark on the biggest tournament in football with seven goals in just five games. He sits in the same bracket as Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe and has done so without the quality and history that Argentina and France enjoy.
Enzo Maresca will also be relieved that Haaland's 2025/26 campaign is finally done. He was comfortably the most used player by Pep Guardiola and as much care as he puts into keeping himself fit the 25-yeard-old still needs to rest as much as possible to be fresh.
"After being in the quarter-finals with Norway and going straight to holiday, it's quite nice, I would say," he told reporters after the game. "I'm quite happy with my life, I'm enjoying it. I'm in a good place and it's kind of difficult to take in."
When he does return to Manchester ahead of the new season, City may find there is even more demand to see their No.9 in action. Haaland has been one of the standout individuals of the World Cup, not just for his football but also his experience of the tournament that he documented on social media; from Snapchat to YouTube, one of the best players on the planet has also been one of the most accessible.
His YouTube channel, which has included footage of him buying cowboy boots in Dallas and challenging Wayne Rooney to follow up his offer to row down the Mersey if Norway beat Brazil, hit two million subscribers at the beginning of July - just eight months after launching. During the defeat to England, it hit three million.
Despite the show Haaland is putting on for the world, he is still seen as a mystifying character. Lee Dixon, on commentary for the game on Sunday and a City fan growing up, trotted out the same old slurs during the game about how the striker doesn't work in games and must frustrate his teammates every week (while he's busy scoring the winner in most games).
Haaland was already popular in the United States but his success this summer has seen millions more become bewitched by this minimalist player who manages to do so much with seemingly so little effort. Demand for the Haaland show has gone through the roof.
City may well see that in their matches next season, and Maresca can only hope that the Norwegian gives his fans new and old what they want.