Erling Braut Haaland was born in Leeds, where his father Alf-Inge Haaland played in the Premier League, and then grew up in the small town of Bryne on the Norwegian west coast. He made his debut for Bryne as a teenager, moved to Molde and had his big break under former national team star Ole Gunnar Solskjær in Norway's top division.
Then it happened quickly. Austrian club Salzburg became the springboard into Europe. Goals straight away in the Champions League made him one of the continent's hottest names, and when Borussia Dortmund signed him he continued to do what had become his trademark: goals, goals and more goals.
Became the last piece of the puzzle
When Manchester City then opened their wallets, Haaland took the step up to the absolute top of world football. He won the Premier League's outright top scorer award and became the final piece of the puzzle in Pep Guardiola's machine as City won the treble (league, FA Cup and Champions League) in the 2022-2023 season.
Haaland's physique is something to be proud of. Almost two metres tall, explosive and with a combination of speed, strength and timing that defenders around the world are still looking for a viable countermeasure to.
"Never seen so many cameras"
For Norway, however, Haaland has meant more than just goals. For many years, the national team lived in the shadow of the 1990s generation of players like Kjetil Rekdal, Tore André Flo and Henning Berg. Now it is Haaland who has become the symbol of a new Norwegian football - a generation that is no longer content to participate, but believes in challenging the very best.
It's also noticeable off the pitch. Few players attract the same attention. Press conferences are packed and children all over the world wear his jersey. During the World Cup, Haaland fever has grown even more and made him the obvious centrepiece of Norway's historic rise. Ahead of tonight's quarter-final against England, the superstar attracted record-breaking attention at the team's press conference in Miami.
"I've never seen so many cameras," said teammate Morten Thorsby.
At 11:00 PM, England awaits in the quarter-finals. Norway has never before come close to reaching the semi-finals of a men's World Cup. World star Haaland will try to lead his country there.
29 goals in 27 games in Salzburg.
86 goals in 89 games at Borussia Dortmund.
162 goals in 198 games at Manchester City.
62 goals in 54 games for Norway's senior national team.
7 goals in 4 games played so far in his first World Cup.
