Erling Haaland’s star power is no longer confined to what he does in front of goal. During his time in the United States, the Manchester City striker has leaned fully into the experience, from sampling a classic New York deli sandwich to having a custom cowboy hat made.
That expanding off-field personality has not gone unnoticed. Three-time Super Bowl champion Julian Edelman said Haaland’s mix of dominance and goofball charm reminds him of a very familiar former teammate.
“This dude is full, European Gronk,” Edelman said on Yahoo Sports Daily. “He’s European Gen Z Gronk.”
The comparison, of course, points to Rob Gronkowski, better known as “Gronk,” whose larger-than-life persona has long been part of his appeal. Gronkowski has built a reputation for embracing the spotlight, whether rappelling down a five-story building during FOX NFL Sunday’s veterans broadcast or energizing the crowd in the Indy 500 Snake Pit.
Gronkowski’s showmanship was backed by elite production, too. He won four Super Bowls across an 11-year NFL career. Haaland has already put together a formidable résumé of his own, winning two Premier League titles and a Champions League title since joining Manchester City in July 2022.
Haaland may still have ground to cover before matching Gronkowski’s status as both a champion and a cultural personality, but his presence has clearly resonated with fans watching the World Cup.
“I love him getting on Snapchat after the games and answering fans, doing goofy stuff, putting cowboy boots on,” Edelman said of Haaland. “It’s been really fun watching these guys come in and enjoy the United States.”
On the field, Haaland has been just as compelling. Through five games, he has scored seven goals for Norway, including a brace in the win over Brazil that sent the country to its first-ever quarterfinals. Haaland and Norway will face England on Saturday at Miami Stadium, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX One.
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