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

“We’re all rooting for Erling Haaland,” said Marie, an American woman attending a Norwegian celebration in Miami, Florida.

“We’ve all fallen in love with him,” she told BBC Mundo. “He’s goofy and he’s a beast.”

“I’m entranced by Mr Haaland,” said Miami resident Robert, speaking to BBC Mundo. “He’s a machine, that guy. Terminator, move over.”

Robert organised a Norwegian-style “row” with 10 of his pickleball friends in Miami Beach on Friday morning, inspired by clips of the Norwegian team on social media.

“For us Americans who don’t know a lot about soccer… it’s wonderful, he’s amazing.”

The Norwegian striker also seems quite found of America.

“People are so 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’m definitely coming back here,” he added.

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

“I like the Americans, I think they are kind of hilarious as well,” he said. “They are funny, I like the way they are.”

Haaland also engages directly with his fans, to their delight.

One Instagram user posted a video of a spring onion with the text: “Am I losing it or does this green onion look like Haaland?”

The footballer’s comment (a gif of a dog in a car, raising its eyebrows as the car window rolls up) has nearly 1.5 million likes.

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

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

She then posted the spring onion video, writing: “Just so everyone knows where I stand”, paired with a Norwegian flag emoji.