Baker's TakeHaaland's World Cup Takeaway: A Dolce & Gabbana Bag and a Drinking Raccoon
By
Mr Bagel
Erling Haaland returned to Norway after a 2026 World Cup quarterfinal loss to England, but he did not come home empty handed. The Manchester City star was spotted with an unusual souvenir: a taxidermied raccoon drinking from a liquor bottle, alongside a Dolce & Gabbana bag, as reported by Whatfinger and Vogue.
"Erling Haaland returned to Norway on Monday with an interesting souvenir from the United States," Bleacher Report noted. The image quickly went viral, with Jezebel adding, "while he didn't nab the World Cup trophy, it looks like our new favorite Viking returned home with his own token of America…a taxidermy raccoon…?" The raccoon seemed to capture the blend of humor and charm that has endeared Haaland to fans worldwide.
According to Whatfinger and Vogue, the striker's goal scoring ability and Snapchat presence have made him a global personality, and this latest post departure photo only added to his legend. Breitbart.com summed up the sentiment: "Norway's Erling Haaland traveled all the way to America seeking a World Cup championship, but he will have to settle for a stuffed raccoon." The Independent described the item as a "quintessentially American taxidermied statue," underscoring the curiosity factor.
Norway fell 2-1 to England in the quarterfinals, and Haaland did not win the Golden Boot. Yet his choice of souvenirs from the United States a designer bag and a raccoon that appears to be enjoying a drink generated nearly as much buzz as the tournament itself. The eclectic haul fits the personality of a player who, as Jezebel framed it, has become "our new favorite Viking."
The reporting
34 outlets covered this story. Each links to the original.
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