A collection of fun moments showing Erling Haaland's relaxed and humorous side off the pitch

Erling Haaland Fun Facts: 12 Little-Known Facts and Off-the-Pitch Hobbies

On the pitch, Erling Haaland is a ruthless "goalscoring machine." Away from the spotlight, however, he has plenty of unusual habits and unexpected interests.

Rather than repeating the tactical analysis and biographical details covered in our in-depth articles, this piece takes a straightforward look at 12 of the most interesting and authentic facts about Haaland. These details are based on his own public interviews, documentaries, or reports from reputable media outlets, offering a closer look at the lesser-known side of one of football's biggest stars.

1. His Full Name Is Erling Braut Haaland

Haaland's full name includes his mother's family name. "Haaland" comes from his father, Alf-Inge, while "Braut" comes from the family name of his mother, Gry Marita Braut, a former Norwegian heptathlete. In recent years, particularly when representing the Norwegian national team at major events such as the 2026 World Cup, he has used the full Braut Haaland name on his shirt. The detail has often been noted by the media as a reminder of the maternal side of his family name.

2. One of His Favorite Things to Do Is Sleep

When asked about what he likes to do in his spare time, Haaland has repeatedly given a remarkably straightforward answer: "I love sleeping." He has openly said that getting enough high-quality sleep is an important part of his daily recovery and maintaining his performance levels. He has even revealed that he uses professional equipment to monitor the quality of his sleep.

3. He Really Does Eat Beef Heart and Liver

Haaland's diet often surprises people. He has spoken publicly about including beef heart and liver in his regular diet. For many ordinary football fans, this is one of the most unexpected aspects of his eating habits. For more details about his nutrition and diet, see our complete guide to Haaland's diet and training.

4. His Dad's Lasagna Is His Comfort Food

Despite following an extremely disciplined diet, Haaland has repeatedly said that his father's homemade lasagna is one of his favorite comfort foods, particularly before matches.

5. He Has Publicly Shown Himself Drinking Raw Milk

Haaland has shared content on social media showing himself getting unpasteurized raw milk from a farm and has said that he personally enjoys drinking it. Note: This is Haaland's personal dietary choice. Public health authorities generally warn that raw milk can carry food-safety risks and do not recommend that the general public consume it.

6. He Likes Video Games, Including Pokémon and Super Mario

Haaland does not spend all of his downtime training and recovering. According to reports during the 2026 World Cup, he revealed that he and his Norway teammates play video games in their spare time, including Super Mario and Pokémon. He has also appeared as a cover star in official promotional campaigns for EA SPORTS FC.

7. His Father Once Wanted Him to Become a Professional Golfer

Haaland is now a world-class footballer, but golf has always been part of his family life. His father, Alf-Inge, has said that he once hoped his son would pursue a professional career in golf. Haaland himself has remained a keen golfer and has played with teammates during downtime, including during breaks around the 2026 World Cup, as a way to relax.

8. He Really Did Release Music as a Teenager

Before becoming a global football superstar, Haaland formed a small group called Flow Kingz with Erik Botheim and Erik Tobias Sandberg. In 2016, they released a song called "Kygo Jo." That early musical chapter is one of the most unusual and memorable pieces of trivia on Haaland's résumé.

9. He Is Close Friends With Jack Grealish

At Manchester City, Haaland has developed a close friendship with English winger Jack Grealish. Manchester City have even produced official videos documenting their interactions both in training and away from the pitch. The pair have also been known to imitate each other's goal celebrations.

10. His Father Once Played for Manchester City

When Haaland joined Manchester City in 2022, the club was far from an unfamiliar name to him. His father, Alf-Inge Haaland, spent several years playing for City, giving Haaland's move an additional layer of family significance.

11. He Stands Around 1.94m Tall Yet Can Sprint at More Than 36 km/h

Haaland stands around 1.94 meters tall, yet official Premier League tracking data has recorded him reaching speeds of more than 36 km/h on multiple occasions, including 36.32 km/h against Wolves during the 2023/24 season. The combination of such a large frame and elite sprinting speed is exceptionally rare in modern football. More statistics are available in our detailed Haaland career statistics.

12. He Scored Nine Goals in a Single U-20 World Cup Match

This is one of the most astonishing facts on Haaland's résumé. At the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Haaland scored nine goals in a single match for Norway against Honduras. It remains the record for the most goals scored by an individual player in a single FIFA U-20 World Cup match. The achievement is also featured in our complete guide to Haaland's records and achievements.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Haaland

Q: Why does Haaland have "Braut" in his name?

A: "Braut" is his mother's family name, inherited from Gry Marita Braut. His full name is Erling Braut Haaland, and in recent years he has also used the full name while representing Norway.

Q: What video games does Haaland like to play?

A: According to recent reports, Haaland enjoys playing games such as Super Mario and Pokémon during his downtime. He has also participated in official promotional campaigns for EA SPORTS FC.

Q: Did Haaland really almost become a professional golfer?

A: Yes. His father, Alf-Inge, has said that he once hoped Haaland would pursue a professional career in golf. Haaland himself has also remained an enthusiastic golfer.

Q: Did Haaland really release music?

A: Yes. Before fully focusing on football, Haaland formed the Flow Kingz group with friends as a teenager and released the song "Kygo Jo" in 2016.

Q: How many goals did Haaland score in a single match at the 2019 U-20 World Cup?

A: Haaland scored nine goals against Honduras at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, setting a tournament record for goals scored by an individual player in a single match.

Conclusion: The Interesting Personality Behind the Machine

These fun facts show that Erling Haaland is more than just a record-breaking striker. Away from football, he is a young man who enjoys video games, music, food, golf, and, above all, sleep. Despite his relentless pursuit of elite performance, he has retained his own personality and sense of humor, which may be part of what allows him to stay focused while operating under the enormous pressure of top-level football.

📚 Key Sources

To ensure accuracy, the core facts in this article were based on the following public reports and official records:

FIFA: Official match records and video from the 2019 U-20 World Cup, including Haaland's nine-goal performance.
BBC Sport: Reporting on Haaland using the "Braut Haaland" name while representing Norway.
Reuters: Reports during the 2026 World Cup covering Haaland's leisure activities, including golf and video games.
Manchester City FC: Official content documenting the friendship and interactions between Haaland and Grealish.
Premier League: Official player-tracking data, including recorded top sprint speeds.

Continue exploring more about Haaland's personality, career, and life off the pitch: