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Erling Haaland has been one of the biggest stars of the FIFA World Cup — not only for his goal-scoring ability but also for the online personality that has turned him into a social media sensation. The Norwegian striker, who stands 6 feet 5 inches tall, has scored seven goals in four World Cup matches heading into Norway's quarterfinal against England on Saturday. While his performances on the pitch have earned praise, his playful social media presence has attracted a new generation of fans, including many who had little interest in football before. Known for his powerful style of play, Haaland has also gained attention online for his light-hearted posts, humorous selfies and interactions with fans. His flowing blond hair, colourful hair ties and quirky sense of humour have inspired countless memes across social media platforms. Fans often describe him as both a fearsome striker and an unexpectedly soft-hearted personality. Many affectionately refer to him as a "babygirl" — an internet term used for male celebrities who appear kind, funny or emotionally expressive despite their tough public image. The contrast between Haaland's commanding presence on the field and his relaxed personality off it has helped make him one of football's most talked-about figures. Sarah Wilson, a baseball content creator from New York who only recently began following football, said Haaland quickly became her favourite player. In a viral video, the 31-year-old joked that she "cannot fathom being such a pretty Norwegian princess and also being one of the best strikers in all of football." Wilson believes Haaland's popularity comes from combining world-class talent with a personality that feels relatable to younger audiences. "He is incredibly talented, but then you see him using Snapchat filters and joking online like many people his age," she told The Associated Press. "You end up thinking, 'He's hilarious. Now he's my favourite player.'" Haaland has embraced his growing online fame by sharing humorous Instagram selfies, posting YouTube videos and interacting with fans through Snapchat. After scoring twice to eliminate Brazil from the World Cup, he posted a smiling locker-room selfie with the caption, "Well well well." He has also jokingly responded to memes comparing his hairstyle to a green onion and encouraged fans to search his name on Google after a special Viking-themed animation appeared in search results. Speaking at Norway's team news conference on Thursday, Haaland said he has enjoyed the warm support from fans in the United States. "I like the Americans. I think they are funny," he said. "The World Cup here has been amazing." Experts say Haaland's popularity reflects how modern athletes are increasingly becoming global entertainment figures through social media. Jeffrey Kassing, a professor at Arizona State University who studies athletes' use of social media, said players now have much greater control over how they present themselves to the public than in previous generations. In the past, fans mainly saw athletes through interviews or press conferences. Today, players can communicate directly with millions of followers, allowing supporters to feel a closer personal connection. That one-sided emotional connection, known as a parasocial relationship, is common among sports fans, according to Gayle Stever, a professor at Empire State University who has studied celebrity-fan relationships for decades. She said most of these relationships are healthy, although a small number of fans can become overly attached. Australian sports management student Skyla Clarke said social media has also exposed footballers to harsh criticism and online abuse after poor performances. Haaland has previously described AI-generated images and videos of players as "a bit scary." Still, he said the attention surrounding Norway and its traditions is a positive sign. "Usually if it's like that, it means that you're doing something right," Haaland said. Haaland is not the only footballer to inspire devoted online communities. Croatian midfielder Luka Modrić has also attracted widespread affection from fans, particularly after Croatia's exit from what was expected to be his final international tournament. Ahead of Norway's quarterfinal against England, many fans have also focused on Haaland's close friendship with England midfielder Jude Bellingham, his former club teammate. Social media users have created videos and edits celebrating their friendship, further adding to Haaland's growing online popularity. Among Haaland's newest supporters is Nulara Ratwatté, a 19-year-old art student at the University of Melbourne, whose videos about the striker have gone viral. Although she admits she knew little about football before the World Cup, she now follows Norway closely. Describing Haaland as "a big, friendly giant," Ratwatté said: "Truly, from the bottom of my heart, I love him."

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland all delivered standout performances on the same day at the World Cup, underlining their status as the tournament’s biggest stars. Haaland scored twice in Norway’s 3-2 win over Senegal on Monday night, finding the net in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. His goals helped him recover from an earlier missed header and a shot that struck the post just before halftime. His display came hours after Messi scored twice for Argentina to set a new World Cup scoring record, while Mbappé also netted a brace for France in a separate match. Haaland, who is still a month away from turning 26, continues to impress for a national team that lacks the international pedigree of Argentina or France. “He is the best striker,” Norway coach Ståle Solbakken said through an interpreter. “He is not playing for France or Argentina. He scores for Norway.” Between them, the three forwards have now scored 13 goals in the tournament — five for Messi and four each for Mbappé and Haaland — intensifying the Golden Boot race. “It’s easier to win the Golden Boot when you play for France and Argentina,” Solbakken added. “But we’ll try to give Erling more games and more help in the next matches.” Messi moved to 18 World Cup goals after Argentina’s win over Austria in Arlington, Texas, becoming the tournament’s all-time top scorer. Mbappé reached 16 goals, tying former record holder Miroslav Klose after France defeated Iraq 3-0 in Philadelphia. Haaland, playing in his first World Cup after Norway’s long absence since 1998, now has four goals in the competition. “I’m part of something special. Norway’s part of something special. We’re making history,” Haaland said. The Manchester City striker has now scored in 12 consecutive competitive matches for Norway, collecting 24 goals in that run. The last time he failed to score in a competitive match for his country was in October 2024. “He’s on fire,” Solbakken said. “I’m very happy for him that he can score on the biggest stage.” Haaland’s first goal against Senegal came during a 4-on-2 counterattack after earlier frustration in front of goal. His second, which hit the crossbar before going in, saw him celebrate by cupping his ear toward Norway fans dressed in red. When asked about his scoring form, Haaland gave a modest explanation. “It’s my specialty to score goals,” he said. “It’s like many other things: I’m just really good at scoring goals, and I’m quite lucky. I don’t know what I’m doing, but yeah. That’s just how it is.”

Manchester City celebrated Pep Guardiola’s 1000th match as a manager with a commanding 3-0 win over defending champions Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. With the victory, the Citizens moved up to second in the Premier League table, closing the gap with leaders Arsenal to four points. Liverpool came into the with a midweek Champions League victory against Real Madrid, but lost rhythm immediately after kick-off. Aside from an early penalty save, Arne Slot’s men struggled to create anything meaningful, while City stretched the lead through Erling Haaland, Nico González and Jérémy Doku. City earned a penalty in the 9th minute when Doku weaved past two defenders and went down after contact with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. Following a VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot, but Mamardashvili dived to his left to deny Haaland. With Mamardashvili’s save, City have now failed to score from four of their last five penalties against Liverpool. In contrast, no goalkeeper in Europe’s top five leagues has saved more penalties than the Georgian shot-stopper (6) since the start of the 2023-24 season. The miss did not keep City waiting long. In the 29th minute, Matheus Nunes whipped in a cross from the right and Haaland headed in to break the deadlock. The 25-year-old Norwegian, the league’s top scorer, has now netted 14 goals in 11 Premier League matches, and 28 in 18 games across all competitions for club and country this season. His league tally now stands at 99 goals in 108 matches.

Manchester City continued their impressive run in the Champions League as Pep Guardiola’s men defeated Borussia Dortmund 4-1 at the Etihad on Wednesday. Phil Foden rediscovered his rhythm, scoring a brace, while Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki contributed the other two of City’s four goals. On the other hand, Waldemar Anton scored Dortmund’s only goal in the 72nd minute. With the victory, Manchester City extended their unbeaten run in the competition, while Dortmund suffered their first defeat of the campaign. After four rounds, City climbed to fourth place with 10 points from three wins and a draw. Bayern Munich lead the standings with maximum points (12), while the next two sides, Arsenal and Inter Milan, also have 12 points each. City dominate from the start Guardiola’s men put Dortmund on the back foot from the opening whistle with a series of well-coordinated attacks. City took control of the match inside the first 30 minutes with two goals. They nearly went ahead in the 10th minute, but Foden’s powerful low strike went straight to Gregor Kobel. Six minutes later, the Dortmund goalkeeper denied him again, this time saving a shot from outside the penalty area. In the 22nd minute, Foden finally found the breakthrough. Receiving a pass from Tijjani Reijnders, the England midfielder advanced a few steps and fired a low diagonal drive that sneaked inside the far post. Five minutes later, Haaland almost made it 2-0 as he set up Nico O’Reilly, but Kobel produced a superb reflex save, tipping the fierce attempt over the crossbar with one hand.

Erling Haaland has played down comparisons between himself and modern football greats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, saying he is nowhere near their level. But, the striker believes he is in “a good way” to surpass his best tally of 56 goals in a season. The Manchester City forward delivered another masterclass on Sunday as his side beat high-flying Bournemouth 3-1, climbing up to second place in the Premier League after 10 matches. With his brace, Haaland now has 13 Premier League goals this season—more than twice as many as any other player. He also achieved a rare milestone, becoming only the third player ever to score two or more goals in four or more consecutive Premier League home appearances, after Robbie Fowler (4 in 1995–96) and Luis Suárez (5 in 2013). Across all competitions, Haaland has already scored 26 goals in 16 appearances for club and country as of early November, taking his career tally to 327. After the Bournemouth match, City manager Pep Guardiola heaped praise on the 25-year-old striker, comparing him to Argentine legend Lionel Messi and Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo, noting how the two remained consistent over 15 seasons. Asked about Guardiola’s comparison, the Norwegian immediately dismissed the idea: “No, not at all. I am far off. Nobody can get close to them two, so no.” Haaland trails a long way behind the pair’s extraordinary goal totals. Argentina great Messi, 38, has scored 892 career goals, while 40-year-old Portugal icon Ronaldo is on 952 as he continues his pursuit of the 1,000-goal mark. Haaland scored 56 goals in the 2022–23 season, his first at Manchester City following his move from Borussia Dortmund, which remains his most prolific campaign so far. This season, Manchester City could play a maximum of 52 more matches, while Norway could play up to 12 if they reach the FIFA World Cup final, plus additional friendlies yet to be decided. With 98 goals in 107 Premier League appearances, Haaland is closing in on becoming the fastest player to reach a century of goals in English top-flight. Former England captain Alan Shearer set the record at 124 games and sits atop the all-time Premier League charts with 260 goals. Shearer, who played for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United, said last month that Haaland has a “brilliant chance” of breaking the record. Asking on that matter Haaland said, “Which record? Not to sound arrogant! I am in a good way but I don't think of this. “Thinking about records I can break is the last thing on my mind, I try to help the team win football games. That is my job and that is my main focus. “I know it's boring, I know you want me to say the complete opposite but that's not how it is. I have to ignore them.” Manchester City host Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday in their fourth Champions League group match, with both teams on seven points.    

Erling Haaland delivered another masterclass on Sunday as Manchester City beat high-flying Bournemouth 3-1, climbing into second place in the Premier League. The Norwegian striker opened the scoring in the 17th minute and doubled the lead in the 33rd. In between, Bournemouth’s USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams pulled one back in the 25th minute, capitalizing on a mistake by Gianluigi Donnarumma. However, Nico O’Reilly sealed the victory for the hosts with a goal in the 60th minute of the game. With his brace, Haaland has moved onto 13 goals in the Premier League this season—more than twice any other player. He also achieved a rare record, becoming only the third player ever to score two or more goals in four or more consecutive Premier League home appearances, after Robbie Fowler (4 in 1995-96) and Luis Suárez (5 in 2013). Barcelona narrow gap with Real Madrid with a 3-1 win over Elche Arsenal remain well ahead at the summit of the table with 25 points from 10 games, but this win keeps Pep Guardiola's side within touching distance. The gap is now six points, while Bournemouth drop to fourth in the table with 18 points. The gap is now six points, while Bournemouth drop to fourth with 18 points. Liverpool have collected the same number of points as the Cherries but sit third due to goal difference. The Blue half of Manchester will host Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League match on Wednesday before facing Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Bournemouth, meanwhile, will look to return to winning ways on Sunday at Villa Park.

A stoppage-time strike from Gabriel Martinelli rescued Arsenal as they held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. The result denied City a much-needed victory while keeping Mikel Arteta’s side firmly in the title race. Haaland’s early opener The visitors struck first in the ninth minute through Erling Haaland, who finished off a swift counter-attack. Starting from his own half, the Norwegian striker combined with Tijjani Reijnders before firing a low strike across goal. It was the first open-play goal Arsenal had conceded this season and their earliest concession in a Premier League match since September 2024. Arsenal take control Despite the early setback, Arsenal dominated possession, enjoying 68 percent of the ball and registering 12 attempts compared to City’s five. However, they struggled to create clear-cut chances against a disciplined defense. Barcelona closes gap on Real Madrid with commanding win over Getafe The Gunners’ first real opportunity came in the 32nd minute, when Noni Madueke headed off target. It was the first time since April 2021 that Arsenal had gone more than 30 minutes into a league match without a single attempt on goal. Arsenal piled on pressure after the break, forcing City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma into several key saves. City, however, nearly doubled their lead in the 57th minute when Haaland’s shot was parried and the rebound deflected over the bar. Martinelli’s late heroics Just as City seemed set to take all three points, Arsenal found their breakthrough. In the third minute of stoppage time, substitute Eberechi Eze slipped a precise through ball to Martinelli. The Brazilian forward kept his composure, lobbing Donnarumma with his first touch to secure a dramatic equalizer. The draw leaves Arsenal second in the table with 10 points from five games, five points behind leaders Liverpool. City, meanwhile, sit ninth with just seven points from their opening fixtures.  

Cristiano Ronaldo once again found himself at the heart of global football headlines during the ongoing international break. Portugal edged past Hungary in a tense World Cup qualifier, thanks to a late winner from João Cancelo. Yet, as so often, it was Ronaldo who stole the limelight not only for his performance but for another landmark goal that added weight to his legendary career. In the 58th minute, the Al Nassr striker calmly converted a penalty, putting Portugal ahead and etching his name into history yet again. With that strike, Ronaldo became the joint-highest scorer in World Cup qualifying history with 39 goals, standing shoulder to shoulder with Guatemala’s Carlos Ruiz. The milestone came just five days after Lionel Messi presumably played the last match of his career in the World Cup qualifiers on home soil with Argentina. Ronaldo’s penalty not only extended his personal tally but also widened the gap over his eternal rival. He now sits three goals ahead of Messi in qualifiers, underlining how the duel between the two greats continues to shape football’s narrative even in its twilight. With this latest addition, Ronaldo’s international goal count swelled to 141 in 223 appearances, the highest in men’s football. Messi, with 114 goals in 194 caps, trails by a significant margin, though still far ahead of Iran’s Ali Daei, who retired with 108 goals from 148 matches. But while Messi and Ronaldo remain the gold standard of international goal-scoring, a new generation has already started rewriting record books. France’s Kylian Mbappé, at just 26, surpassed Thierry Henry’s tally of 51 to become his country’s second-highest scorer with 52 goals. Now just five behind Olivier Giroud, Mbappé seems destined to become France’s all-time top scorer before long. With his pace, consistency, and age on his side, many believe he could eventually challenge Ronaldo’s monumental record. Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, still only 17, has already shown flashes of brilliance for La Roja. If his talent matures and injuries stay at bay, Yamal could well join the pantheon of international greats in the decades to come. Yet, amid this shifting landscape, one name stands out as a genuine threat to Ronaldo’s seemingly unbreakable record: Erling Haaland. The 25-year-old Norwegian forward, already a household name thanks to his club Manchester City, is rapidly building an international legacy of his own. Last night, Haaland spearheaded Norway’s extraordinary 11–1 demolition of Moldova, netting five goals in a single match. The performance elevated his international tally to 48 goals in just 45 appearances, giving him a jaw-dropping strike rate of 1.07 goals per game. To put that in perspective, Ronaldo averages 0.63, Messi 0.59, and Mbappé 0.57 goals per match. Haaland, in other words, is scoring at nearly double the rate of the two greatest of all time. Haaland’s meteoric rise is even more remarkable when you consider the timeline. Since debuting for Norway on September 5, 2019, he has amassed 48 goals in just six years. Ronaldo, by comparison, had scored 22 international goals at the same point in his career. Age is another factor tilting the balance. Ronaldo, who has hinted multiple times that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will likely be his last dance, is expected to retire at 41. Messi, at 38, remains undecided about extending his international journey that far. Haaland, however, has at least 13–15 prime years ahead. If his current scoring rate holds—even allowing for dips in form or injury breaks—he could end his career eclipsing Ronaldo’s all-time record. Of course, the caveat lies in Norway’s fortunes. Unlike Portugal or Argentina, the Norwegians are not perennial favorites at major tournaments. The fewer games his team plays in continental championships and World Cups, the fewer chances Haaland will have to add to his tally. Still, his efficiency is so staggering that even with limited opportunities, his pursuit of Ronaldo’s record feels inevitable rather than speculative. As football’s torch gradually passes from Ronaldo and Messi to the next generation, the question now lingers: will Haaland’s ruthless efficiency make him the new benchmark in international football? For now, Ronaldo’s crown remains intact. But with every Haaland hat-trick and brace, that once-untouchable record looks just a little more fragile.

Erling Haaland's penalty miss cost Manchester City as the four-time defending Premier League champion dropped more points in a 1-1 draw with Everton on Thursday. Haaland had the chance to fire City on course for only its second win in 13 games when stepping up for a 53rd minute spot kick at the Etihad Stadium. But his tame effort was saved by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to extend City’s woeful run. Pep Guardiola’s team has lost nine of its last 13 games in all competitions. The draw means City picked up only its fifth point in the league since the end of October. Bernardo Silva’s deflected shot gave City the lead in the 14th, but Iliman Ndiaye leveled the score in the 36th. City is sixth in the standings and 11 points behind leader Liverpool, having played two games more. Liverpool has the chance to extend its lead over the champion when playing Leicester in the later kick off. Haaland's missed penalty means the Norway international has only scored once in his last seven games. He headed in from the rebound, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Haaland, who last week admitted his form had not been good enough during a run that has seen City's season unravel, held his head in his hands after his failure to score from the spot. He still has 18 goals in 25 appearances this season, but has not scored in a win for his club since the 1-0 victory against last placed Southampton on Oct. 26. Kohli and Australia teen Konstas provide a fiery start to the 4th cricket test “We shoot a lot in the 18-yard box, but unfortunately we could not get the results that we wanted,” Guardiola said afterward. City's damaging run has seen it slip down the standings in the league and crash out of the English League Cup. It is also in danger of missing out on the playoffs for the round of 16 in the Champions League - sitting just one point above the cut off point with two games to play.  

The Manchester derby has become one of the fiercest rivalries over the past ten years. The two sides will meet for the 188th time on Sunday (October 10) when Manchester City welcomes bitter rivals Manchester United to the Etihad Stadium. The Citizens' summer signing, Erling Haaland, is on fire right now and is in position to set yet another exceptional record in the Man City vs Man Utd clash. What record could Erling Haaland break against Manchester United? Noreiwagn Erling Haaland has been in a record-breaking sphere after hitting 11 goals in his first 7 appearances. The dangerous striker is widely expected to break the Premier League record for most goals in a single season. Andy Cole and Alan Shearer have jointly held the record for most goals in a single Premier League season with 34. Haaland's goal-scoring prowess suggests that he will have little trouble breaking the current record in his first season. Read: Mbappe scores winner as PSG edges Nice 2-1 But on Sunday, Erling will be eying a different record, one that no one has done before. He netted two hat-tricks in his previous two home league matches against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace. Haaland will set a new record of three consecutive hat-tricks in home Premier League fixtures if he can score a hat-trick against Manchester United. In the 2018-2019 campaign, former Man City striker Sergio Aguero had three hat-tricks at home. Can Haaland achieve the feat by scoring three goals against a top-tier European football team? Given Haaland's recent performance and Manchester United's current defensive shortcomings, it won't be surprising to see Haaland score numerous goals during this match. Manchester United vs Manchester City: Match Preview The Manchester City vs Manchester United Premier League match will start at 7 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time) on October 2. Both Manchester sides will likely miss some of their regular starters for this contest. The reigning champions, Manchester City, will miss two of their English stars, John Stones and Kalvin Phillips. However, the return of defender Aymeric Laporte is great news for manager Pep Guardiola. The rest of the players in the squad are fit and available for selection. Guardiola’s preferred formation could be 4-3-3 in this fixture. Read: Splendid Brazil destroy clueless Tunisia 5-1 in Paris Probable Starting Line Up (Manchester City) GK: Ederson; Defenders: Walker, Akanji, Dias, Cancelo; Midfielders: Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Forwards: Foden, Haaland, Grealish Manchester United, on the other hand, are in even more of a selection dilemma as a number of players are out for this clash due to injury issues. Because of fitness issues, Donny van de Beek, Brandon Williams, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro, and Scott McTominay are all likely to miss this derby clash. Manager Erik ten Hag may prefer to field a 4-2-3-1 formation for more defensive solidarity. Probable Starting Line Up (Manchester United) GK: De Gea; Defenders: Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Malacia; Midfielders: Casemiro, Eriksen, Antony, Fernandes, Sancho; Forward: Rashford Manchester City vs Manchester United 2022: Match Prediction Manchester City are in second place in the Premier League 2022-2023 season at the moment with 17 points in 7 matches. On the other hand, Manchester United have made a strong comeback after disappointing results in their opening two fixtures. They are now in sixth position with 12 points in six matches. Given the squad's strength and the current form, the Citizens will surely start as favourites against the Red Devils in this fixture. Read: Argentina equal Brazil’s unbeaten record with a thumping victory over Jamaica Aftermath The Manchester City side is currently dominating both domestic and international competitions. Their main hitman, Erling Haaland, has been in excellent form, and it appears that he and his new teammates have developed a close bond. The Norwegian wonderkid will be eager to set a new record when he plays against Manchester United. If Haaland finds his usual form, it would be more worrisome for Manchester United, who are trying to correct their defensive mistakes. Overall, Sunday's Man City vs Man Utd game promises to be an exciting one to watch.  Read: In pictures: UEFA Nations League matches from September 2022