’Haaland is also Peruvian’: Striker’s name given to hundreds of newborns as World Cup fever takes over

Norway may be thousands of miles away, but Erling Haaland has found an unlikely second home in the hearts—and on the birth certificates—of Peruvian parents. The 2026 World Cup has unleashed a naming frenzy across the South American nation, with hundreds of newborns now officially carrying the Manchester City striker’s surname or full name.

According to data released by Peru’s National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (Reniec), 468 babies born this month were registered with the surname “Haaland,” while another 91 received the full name “Erling Haaland”. Four particularly devoted families went a step further, registering their children as “Erling Braut Haaland”—the striker’s complete name.

In total, 593 Peruvians now carry some version of Haaland in their name.

‘Haaland is also Peruvian’

“Different football stars serve as inspiration for Peruvians to register their children with these names,” Reniec spokesperson Iván Torres told Panamericana Televisión. “Haaland is also Peruvian”.

Torres explained that most registrations occurred in the weeks following the World Cup kick-off, with numbers surging after Norway’s historic victory over Brazil—a match in which Haaland scored both goals to secure his nation’s first-ever quarter-final appearance.

A Nation of Football Names

The Haaland phenomenon is far from unique in Peru. According to Reniec, the country has a long tradition of naming children after football icons:

· Neymar leads the list with a staggering 33,809 Peruvians carrying the name.
· Lionel Messi appears in 3,402 registrations, with 292 bearing the full “Lionel Messi”.
· Cristiano Ronaldo has 1,185 Peruvian namesakes.
· Lamine Yamal follows closely with 1,241 registrations.
· Kylian Mbappé appears in 238 cases.

Other emerging talents have also made their mark: Endrick appears in 3,332 registrations, Gavi in 1,078, and Mohamed Salah in 319.

“We cannot prohibit people from giving these names,” Torres said, noting that Peruvian law allows names inspired by celebrities as long as they do not violate fundamental rights.

The ‘Android’ Inspires a Generation

The 25-year-old Norwegian, nicknamed “The Android” for his robotic efficiency in front of goal, has been one of the tournament’s standout performers with seven goals in four appearances—trailing only Messi and Mbappé, who have eight each. His double against Brazil not only eliminated the five-time champions but also propelled the Vikings into uncharted territory.

As Norway prepares for a quarter-final clash against England this Saturday, the so-called “Haalandmanía” shows no signs of slowing down. Should the Vikings continue their improbable run, the registry office may need to prepare for another wave of tiny Haalands.

In a country where football is a religion, Erling Haaland has become its newest saint—one name at a time.