Erling Haaland and Cristiano Ronaldo headline World Cup 2026 frenzy

Norwegian striker Erling Haaland has kept his distinctive long blond hair tied with KKNEKKI hairbands, a Norwegian brand he has used for years. The partnership produced a limited Haaland Collection, featuring eight designs priced above 800,000 đ, and one of the bands appeared in Norway’s World Cup 2026 match against Iraq where Haaland scored two goals and provided an assist.

Haaland’s humorous on‑ and off‑field moments have drawn a large following on Snapchat and other platforms, earning him nicknames such as “Ha Bao” in China. His performance at the tournament includes multiple goals and Player‑of‑the‑Match awards, underscoring his status as a leading forward.

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, has also been a focal point of the World Cup. Former Manchester United teammate Nicky Butt described Ronaldo as a friendly and team‑oriented player, countering common public perceptions. Ronaldo delivered a brace in Portugal’s 5‑0 win over Uzbekistan after a muted display against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

During the competition Ronaldo posted a photo with his partner Georgina Rodríguez on Instagram, accompanied only by a heart emoji. The image quickly amassed over 10 million likes, while Rodriguez’s caption called him “Dad’s talisman”, highlighting the couple’s popularity among fans.