The Erling Haaland Phenomenon in Peru

Erling Haaland’s popularity has long since transcended Europe’s borders. The Norwegian striker continues to make headlines with his 7 goals in the tournament as he prepares to take the field against England in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals. However, Haaland’s influence isn’t limited to the soccer field. In Peru, some families have begun naming their newborn children after him.

According to data released by Peru’s National Institute of Statistics and Civil Registry and shared by the newspaper La Nación, 468 children in the country were directly named “Haaland.” Additionally, 91 children were registered with the full name “Erling Haaland.” It was noted that this trend gained momentum especially after the match in which Norway defeated Brazil 2-1 and Haaland scored two goals, leading his team to a historic advancement to the next round of the World Cup.

In Peru, however, naming children after soccer stars is not a new tradition. Ivan Torres, a spokesperson for the Peruvian Civil Registry, said that soccer’s biggest stars have long inspired parents, and families looking for unique names often choose these names.

According to the data, 3,402 people in Peru bear the name “Messi,” 292 of whom are registered as “Lionel Messi.” Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, has 1,185 namesakes in the country. The number of people named after Lamine Yamal, the darling of the new generation, has reached 1,241, while Neymar tops the list with 33,809 people bearing his name.