If you ask Americans, Norway’s Erling Haaland is already a winner

“We all support Erling Haaland,” said Marie, an American woman who attended a Norwegian celebration in Miami, Florida.

“We all fell in love with it,” he told BBC Mundo. “He’s stupid and a monster.”

“I’m fascinated by Mr. Haaland,” Miami resident Robert told BBC Mundo. “That man is a machine. Terminator, step aside.”

On Friday morning in Miami Beach, Robert organized a Norwegian-style “challenge” with 10 of his fellow pickleball players, inspired by clips of the Norwegian team on social media.

“For us Americans who don’t know much about football, that’s great, he’s amazing.”

The Norwegian striker also seems quite fond of America.

“People are very nice here,” Haaland said in one of his vlogs. “They’re so positive. I don’t know what it is, they’re just enjoying life.”

“I will definitely come back here,” he added.

At a recent press conference, Haaland was asked about her new American fans.

“I love Americans, I think they’re very funny too,” he said. “They’re funny, I like them.”

Haaland also communicates directly with his fans, which they like.

One Instagram user shared a video of a scallion, writing: “Am I losing it or does this scallion look like Haaland?”

The football player’s comment (a gif of the dog in the car raising its eyebrows as the car window opens) received nearly 1.5 million likes.

Spring onion comparisons have gained traction in unexpected corners of the internet.

Florida congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna asked her followers on channel X whether they would support Norway or England in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

She later posted a video of scallions paired with a Norwegian flag emoji, reading: “So everyone knows where I stand.”