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Norway’s goal-scoring sensation Erling Haaland is taking the 2026 FIFA World Cup by storm—and his influence now extends far beyond the football pitch.
The 25-year-old striker has scored seven goals in four matches, including both goals in Norway’s historic victory over Brazil, helping his country reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time. Norway will face England on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals.
Haaland’s stunning performances have sparked a naming craze in Peru, where hundreds of parents have chosen his name for their newborns. According to Peru’s national identity registry, 468 children now bear the surname Haaland, while another 91 have been registered with the full name Erling Haaland.
“Different football stars inspire Peruvians to name their children after them,” registry spokesperson Ivan Torres told Panamericana Television.
Most of the babies named after Haaland were registered in the weeks following the start of the World Cup, with the trend accelerating as Norway advanced to the quarter-finals.
“Haaland is also Peruvian,” Torres joked.
Peru has a long history of celebrating football icons through baby names. According to registry data, 3,402 Peruvians are named Messi, including 292 with the full name Lionel Messi. Another 1,185 people are named after Cristiano Ronaldo, while 1,241 carry the name Yamal in tribute to Spain’s rising star Lamine Yamal.
Brazilian superstar Neymar remains the most popular football-inspired name in Peru, with an astonishing 33,809 people bearing his name.
