Manchester City star Erling Haaland has long kept his personal beliefs private, even as fans speculate on social media. The Norwegian-born forward sometimes uses Arabic phrases like “Alhamdulillah” and “Inshallah” (meaning “Praise be to God” and “God willing”), which sparked rumors about Islam. However, reports note that Haaland has never publicly stated his religion.
Quick Profile: Erling Haaland
| Full Name | Erling Braut Håland |
| Date of Birth | 21 July 2000 |
| Nationality | Norwegian |
| Height | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) |
| Position | Striker (Centre-Forward) |
| Religion | Born into a Christian family; personal faith not disclosed |
What religion is Erling Haaland ?
Erling Haaland has never publicly stated a religion. He was born and raised in Norway, a country where most people are nominally Christian and indeed comes from a Christian family. However, none of his clubs, interviews, or social posts include any confession of faith. The curiosity arose when Haaland, who played with Muslim teammates, posted an Arabic phrase “Alhamdulillah” (praise be to God) after a goal celebration in 2021, and later wrote “Inshallah” (“God willing”) when marking a milestone in 2022. These instances were widely noted, but analysts emphasize there is no evidence he has converted to Islam.
Early Life
Erling Braut Haaland was born on 21 July 2000 in Leeds, England, where his father Alf-Inge “Alfie” Haaland was playing professional football for Leeds United. When Erling was three, his family moved back to Bryne, a town in southwestern Norway. He is the son of Alfie Haaland (a former Norwegian international defender) and Gry Marita Braut (a former heptathlon athlete).
Growing up in Bryne, Haaland joined the local club’s youth academy at age five and showed remarkable athleticism (he reportedly set a world record in his age group for the standing long jump at five years old). He began playing competitive football early, scoring prolifically for Bryne’s youth and reserve teams as a teenager.
Career Highlights
Haaland’s professional career began in Norway and quickly accelerated abroad. He made senior appearances for Bryne FK and then Molde FK in Norway. In January 2019, Haaland signed with Austrian giants Red Bull Salzburg, where he burst onto the international scene. In just half a season at Salzburg, he scored an astonishing number of goals (28 goals in 22 matches) and helped the club win the Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup in 2019. His performances included multiple hat-tricks and a rapid scoring streak in the UEFA Champions League group stage.
In January 2020, Haaland transferred to Borussia Dortmund in Germany. He continued his prolific form there, setting records like being the fastest player to reach 50 goals in the Bundesliga. At Dortmund he won the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) in 2021 and earned the Bundesliga’s Player of the Season award. His success with Dortmund confirmed him as one of Europe’s top strikers.
The biggest move came in summer 2022, when Manchester City paid a reported €60 million for Haaland. He made an immediate impact in England. In his first season (2022–23) with City, he won a historic continental treble (Premier League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League). That season, Haaland broke the Premier League record with 36 goals (in 35 games), and scored 52 goals in all competitions, a new English top-flight record. His goals helped City capture its first Champions League title, first treble by an English team since 1999, and he earned the Premier League Golden Boot and European Golden Shoe for 2022–23. In 2023–24 he continued to shine, helping City win the Premier League again and finishing as league top scorer for the second straight year.
Across his career, Haaland is known for his strength, speed, and incredible finishing ability. By age 25 he had already scored over 100 club goals and won league titles in Austria and England, as well as domestic cups in Germany and England. He also boasts numerous fast-start records in the Champions League. (For example, UEFA statistics note Haaland has scored 53 goals in 51 Champions League games, setting all-time scoring records for appearances.)
Personal Life
Haaland maintains a relatively private personal life. He has been in a long-term relationship with Isabel Haugseng Johansen, a Norwegian woman and former footballer, since around 2019. In October 2024 Haaland announced on social media that they were expecting their first child, and their son was born in December 2024. (The couple has kept their child out of the public eye.)
Haaland is also noted for interests beyond football: he practices meditation as part of his routine, and he even recorded a rap music single, “Kygo Jo,” in 2016 along with two teammates from Norway’s under-17 team. These hobbies show a different side of the athlete. He speaks openly about striving for balance and has said he enjoys learning from different disciplines, though he rarely discusses religion or personal beliefs in interviews.
Awards and Honors
Haaland’s trophy cabinet is already filled with team and individual honors. With his clubs he has won:
- Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup (2019) with Red Bull Salzburg.
- DFB-Pokal (German Cup) 2021 with Borussia Dortmund.
- English Premier League 2022–23 and 2023–24, FA Cup 2022–23, and UEFA Champions League 2022–23 (Manchester City). This 2023 treble was the first by an English team in 24 years.
- FA Community Shield 2023 (Manchester City).
Individually, Haaland has received many top awards. Notably, he won the Premier League Golden Boot in 2022–23 (36 goals) and again in 2023–24, and also earned the European Golden Shoe 2023 as Europe’s top scorer. He was named UEFA Men’s Player of the Year 2023, and he was a runner-up for the 2023 Ballon d’Or. In England, he made history by winning Premier League Young Player of the Season and Player of the Season in the same year (2023), a unique double. He also won the prestigious Golden Boy Award 2020 (best under-21 in Europe) and was named Bundesliga Player of the Season 2021.
In recognition of his talent, Haaland has been selected for the FIFA FIFPro World XI every year from 2021 through 2025. Norwegian media have also repeatedly named him Norway’s Footballer of the Year. In youth international play, he won the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Boot, famously scoring a record nine goals in a single match. He debuted for Norway’s senior team in 2019 and as of late 2025 has scored 51 goals in 46 appearances, making him Norway’s all-time leading scorer.
Endorsements and Earnings
Off the field, Haaland is one of football’s biggest earners. As of 2025, his reported salary at Manchester City is around 27.3 million GBP per year (roughly £450,000 per week), second only to a few teammates. Analysts estimate his net worth at about $40–50 million.
He has major sponsorship deals as well: in 2020 he signed a reported $24 million boot contract with Nike, having famously turned down rivals. He has also partnered with non-sport brands, for example serving as global brand ambassador for appliance giant Midea (a Manchester City sponsor) starting in 2024. Other known sponsors include Swiss watchmaker Breitling and consumer goods firms like Unilever. These off-field deals, combined with his salary, make him one of the highest-paid athletes worldwide.
