The influence of Norwegian striker Erling Haaland has extended to Peru, where 468 newborns have been named after the 25-year-old following his standout performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Beyond those using his surname, 91 newborns were given his full name. This trend follows a campaign where Haaland scored seven goals in four matches, helping Norway reach the quarter-finals for the first time in 28 years.
Haaland’s tournament began with a brace in a 4-1 victory against Iraq, followed by two more goals in a 3-2 win over Senegal. He then secured a late winner in a 2-1 Round of 32 victory against Cote d'Ivoire and netted both goals in a 2-1 win over Brazil. Norway’s journey eventually ended in the quarter-finals with a 2-1 extra-time loss to England. While other football stars also hold significant naming popularity in Peru—including nearly 34,000 for Neymar, 1,241 for Lamine Yamal, 1,185 for Cristiano Ronaldo, and over 3,400 for Lionel Messi—Haaland’s recent heroics have clearly captured the public imagination.
Reflecting on the quarter-final match in Miami, England head coach Thomas Tuchel expressed pride in his team's resilience. Despite the win, Tuchel admitted he was not fully satisfied with the performance, noting that the team could have been more clinical and faster in their play. He cited unforced errors and technical mistakes as areas of concern, even as his squad prepared to face Argentina in the semi-final in Atlanta on July 15. For Haaland and Norway, the tournament concludes after a memorable run that cemented the striker's status as a global icon.
Haaland, though, endured a quiet outing against the Three Lions as Stale Solbakken's side crashed out in the last eight.Nevertheless, Haaland had done enough to capture attention in Peru, where 468 newborns were given the player's surname, as per the Daily Sun, while 91 others have his full name.It's pertinent to note that over 3400 people in the country have Lionel Messi's surname, with 292 bearing the full name.
So, the head of mine is not fully satisfied and not 100% happy with the way we played, and I stand by it.
