Erling Haaland's market value and Instagram fanbase explode after 2026 World Cup

After the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Norwegian striker Erling Haaland became the joint most‑valuable footballer worldwide, with Transfermarkt valuing him at €220 million, matching Spanish forward Lamine Yamal. This marks the first time any player has broken the €200 million barrier.

During the tournament Haaland’s Instagram following surged dramatically, rising from roughly 40 million before the event to more than 72 million afterwards – an increase of over 30 million new followers in weeks. The increase placed him among the fastest‑growing athletes on the platform, alongside goalkeeper Josimar "Vozinha" Dias, who added nearly 30 million followers.

In Norway the World Cup generated a national “folk‑fest”: the quarter‑final against England averaged 1.63 million TV viewers, peaking at 1.75 million, representing over a third of the country’s population. Regional TV markets in New England, such as Boston and Providence, also posted unusually high ratings, ranking among the top 15 U.S. DMAs for World Cup viewership.

Collectively these developments show the tournament’s broad cultural and commercial impact, boosting player market valuations, digital influence, and media consumption across multiple countries.