Updated

Updated · The Associated Press · Jul 11

Haaland Scores 7 Goals in 4 Matches as 60 Million Instagram Followers Fuel 'Babygirl' Craze

Updated

Updated · The Associated Press · Jul 11

Haaland Scores 7 Goals in 4 Matches as 60 Million Instagram Followers Fuel 'Babygirl' Craze

Q: With his team battling sickness, can Haaland's individual brilliance be enough to defeat England in the quarterfinals?

Yes — Haaland can be enough to beat England, but only if Norway give him enough support to turn a few moments into chances. The evidence for that is strong. Haaland has seven goals in four World Cup matches, has scored in every game, and just carried Norway past Brazil with a brace in the round of 16. More broadly, he has 60 goals in 53 appearances for Norway and an extraordinary scoring rate that underlines how often he decides matches almost on his own. His club record at Manchester City and his history of scoring against elite opposition also support the idea that one or two openings may be all he needs. The problem is that Norway’s illness issues raise the degree of difficulty. Ståle Solbakken has acknowledged sickness in camp, and fatigue from heavy travel has also been a factor. If Norway are weakened physically, that affects pressing, defensive concentration and, crucially, the quality of service into Haaland. Even a striker in this form cannot dominate if his team cannot progress the ball or protect leads. England remain the deeper and more balanced side, even with some absences of their own. Over 90 minutes, that usually matters more than one player. But Haaland is exactly the kind of forward who can overturn that logic because he needs so little to score. So the fairest answer is that Haaland’s brilliance gives Norway a real path to victory, but if the sickness significantly blunts the team around him, England should still be favored.

3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jul 11

Seven goals in four World Cup matches have turned Norway striker Erling Haaland into more than a tournament star, with fans recasting the 25-year-old as the internet’s “babygirl.”
His 6-foot-5 frame and elite finishing contrast with goofy Snapchat filters, cheeky selfies and self-mocking posts, a mix that has pulled in even non-soccer fans.
Nearly 60 million Instagram followers, viral memes and a Haaland look-alike contest in the U.S. show how his online persona has widened his appeal ahead of Norway’s quarterfinal against England.
Researchers cited by AP said Haaland’s rise reflects stronger parasocial bonds between athletes and fans, as players now shape their own image far beyond interviews and press conferences.
That dynamic is also pushing soccer players deeper into pop culture, with fans building narratives around Haaland’s friendships, appearance and off-pitch personality as much as his goals.