Haaland's quirky World Cup souvenir steals the show on his return to Norway

Erling Haaland's return to Norway after the FIFA World Cup 2026 became an internet sensation when the Manchester City striker stepped off the team plane carrying a taxidermied raccoon holding a whiskey bottle. The unusual souvenir, reportedly purchased for USD 750 (about Rs 72,000) from a western store in Dallas, Texas, quickly went viral, with Haaland later joking on social media, "It followed me home."

The 25-year-old forward was photographed arriving at Oslo's Gardermoen Airport with the mounted raccoon tucked under one arm while carrying a designer travel bag in the other. Images of the homecoming spread rapidly across social media, prompting thousands of reactions and memes as fans embraced yet another example of Haaland's playful personality.

The stuffed animal, marketed as the "Whiskey Raccoon", was bought from Wild Bill's Western Store in Dallas during Norway's stay in Texas for the World Cup. Haaland had earlier shared videos of the raccoon on Snapchat, along with cowboy themed purchases including a hat and boots. Following the footballer's viral appearance, reports said the store's stock of the quirky souvenir sold out as interest surged from around the world.

Haaland's lighthearted post, captioned "It followed me home", further fuelled online discussion. He later invited fans to vote on possible names for the raccoon through an Instagram poll, continuing the joke that had already become one of the tournament's most talked about off field moments.

The attention came after Norway completed its best World Cup campaign in decades. The Scandinavian side reached the quarter finals before losing 2 to 1 after extra time to England. Haaland finished the tournament with seven goals and emerged as one of its standout players, helping Norway reach the knockout stages in its first World Cup appearance since 1998.

Back home, Norway's squad received a hero's welcome, with tens of thousands of supporters lining the streets of Oslo to celebrate the team's historic run. While the celebrations honoured the players' achievements on the pitch, Haaland's unexpected travel companion ensured his arrival became one of the tournament's most memorable viral images.