"Racoon"... Haaland

Norwegian star Erling Haaland, Manchester City striker, sparked public curiosity after his return from the 2026 World Cup, appearing with an unusual souvenir from the United States: a taxidermied raccoon.

Upon disembarking from the Norwegian national team’s plane in the capital, Oslo, after being eliminated from the World Cup by England in the quarter-finals, Haaland was seen carrying two bags on his right shoulder while holding the taxidermied animal in his left hand, which was clutching an empty cranberry-flavored beverage bottle.

The 25-year-old stole the spotlight in his World Cup debut, scoring seven goals in five matches. His popularity surged significantly in the United States, where he gained over 22 million new Instagram followers thanks to his on-field performances and off-pitch persona.

Haaland purchased the taxidermied raccoon during a visit to a store in Dallas, a shop specializing in Western-style clothing and merchandise that has been operating for nearly 50 years.

During the visit, the Norwegian striker wore snake-skin boots and a cowboy hat bearing the initials of his name and his jersey number (9), before selecting the taxidermied raccoon among his purchases.

Speaking to The Athletic, the store staff member said, “It was ours. We’ve had some taxidermied raccoons in the store for years, and it seems he was drawn to them, as well as to some squirrels.”

She added that the raccoon became highly sought-after after photos of Haaland with it went viral, noting that the store ordered a new specimen, but it sold online before it could be placed on the shelves.

The taxidermied raccoon was previously listed for sale at $750, but it is now unavailable due to overwhelming demand.

Haaland had praised Dallas in a video blog posted on his YouTube channel, saying after his store visit: “Dallas is amazing, it’s so great. I’ll come back here. The people here are extremely kind and positive. I don’t know why, but they just enjoy life.”