Erling Braut Haaland (born 21 July 2000) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester City and the Norway national team. Renowned for his speed, strength, positioning, and finishing, he is widely considered one of the best players in the world and the greatest Norwegian footballer of all time. Haaland’s ability to score from virtually any position, combined with his physical prowess, has shattered multiple records across Europe’s top leagues.
Having begun his professional career with Bryne and Molde, he moved to Red Bull Salzburg in 2019, where he won the Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup. In 2020, he joined Borussia Dortmund, winning the DFB-Pokal in 2021. A year later, Haaland signed for Manchester City, quickly setting records for most goals in a Premier League season and in all competitions, while helping the club win the continental treble in his debut season.
Quick Facts of Erling Haaland
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Erling Braut Haaland |
| Date of Birth | 21 July 2000 |
| Age | 25 |
| Place of Birth | Leeds, England |
| Nationality | Norwegian |
| Height | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) |
| Position | Striker |
| Current Team | Manchester City |
| Club Number | 9 |
| Net Worth | $35 million (estimated) |
| Major Achievements | Premier League Golden Boot (2x), European Golden Shoe, Champions League top scorer (2x), UEFA Men’s Player of the Year, Continental treble 2022–23, record-breaking Premier League goals and hat-tricks |
| International Debut | 2019, Norway senior team |
Early Life and Family
Born in Leeds, England, Haaland is the son of former Norwegian footballer Alfie Haaland and former heptathlete Gry Marita Braut. His father played for Leeds United at the time of his birth. At age three, Haaland moved to Bryne, Norway, his parents’ hometown.
From a young age, Haaland excelled not only in football but also in handball, golf, and athletics. Notably, he reportedly set a world record in the standing long jump for his age at just five years old. His athleticism from childhood laid the foundation for his incredible strength and speed on the pitch.
Club Career
Bryne
Haaland joined Bryne’s academy at age five and played for the reserve team, Bryne 2, scoring 18 goals in 14 matches during the 2015–16 seasons. Initially deployed as a winger, he was soon converted to a central striker by youth coach Berntsen. Although he did not score in his first season with Bryne’s senior team, his potential earned him trials abroad before moving to Molde in 2017.
Molde
Haaland debuted for Molde in 2017, scoring in his first Norwegian Cup match. During the 2018 season, he exploded onto the scene, scoring 16 goals in 30 appearances and earning the Eliteserien Breakthrough of the Year award. His exploits drew comparisons to Romelu Lukaku and multiple offers from European clubs.
Red Bull Salzburg
In January 2019, Haaland signed with Red Bull Salzburg. He rapidly made history by scoring hat-tricks in consecutive league matches and became the only player to score a first-half hat-trick on his UEFA Champions League debut. By the end of the season, he had scored 29 goals in 22 appearances, marking him as one of Europe’s most prolific young talents.
Borussia Dortmund
Haaland joined Dortmund in December 2019. He made an immediate impact, scoring a hat-trick on his Bundesliga debut and setting multiple records for fastest goals and scoring streaks. During the 2020–21 season, he became Champions League top scorer with 10 goals and helped Dortmund win the DFB-Pokal. Despite injuries in 2021–22, he broke the record for fastest to 50 Bundesliga goals before leaving for Manchester City.
Manchester City
In 2022, Haaland signed for Manchester City for €60 million. His debut season was historic:
- 36 Premier League goals in 35 appearances, breaking the all-time Premier League single-season record.
- Set records for fastest hat-tricks, fastest to 20 league goals, and most goals in all competitions for City.
- Won the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League, achieving the continental treble.
- Named UEFA Men’s Player of the Year and won the European Golden Shoe.
In subsequent seasons, he continued breaking records, including fastest to 100 Premier League goals, fastest to 50 Champions League goals, and multiple hat-tricks, cementing his place as one of the all-time greats.
International Career
Youth Level
Haaland scored a record nine goals in a single match at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, winning the Golden Boot.
Senior Level
He debuted for Norway in 2019 at age 18. Haaland has since become Norway’s all-time top scorer, surpassing Jørgen Juve in 2024, and is known for multiple international hat-tricks, including a record-breaking five-goal match against Moldova in 2025.
Player Profile
Haaland is a complete striker, combining size, speed, and finishing ability. He excels in holding up the ball, creating chances for teammates, and making intelligent off-the-ball runs. Known for his “meditation” goal celebration, he draws inspiration from Zlatan Ibrahimović and Cristiano Ronaldo, while citing Virgil van Dijk and Sergio Ramos as formidable opponents.
Personal Life
Erling Haaland is in a relationship with Isabel Haugseng Johansen, with whom he has a child born in December 2024. He is also known for practicing meditation and has released music as part of the group Flow Kingz.
