Peru's Haaland craze! Hundreds of babies named after Norway star during World Cup

Erling Haaland's goals are making headlines at the 2026 FIFA World Cup - but in Peru, the Norway striker is inspiring something even more lasting.

According to Peru's national identity registry, per AFP reports, hundreds of newborn babies have been named after the Manchester City forward as his spectacular World Cup campaign captures the imagination of football fans across the country.

Haaland's goals caused an earthquake in Norway – literally!

Registry figures show that 468 Peruvians now bear the surname "Haaland", while another 91 children have been registered with the full name "Erling Haaland".

"Different football stars serve as inspiration for Peruvians to register their children with these names," registry spokesperson Ivan Torres told Panamericana Television.

Torres revealed that registrations surged in the weeks following the start of the World Cup and accelerated even further after Norway secured a historic place in the quarter-finals.

"Haaland is also Peruvian," he joked.

The 25-year-old has been one of the stars of the tournament, scoring seven goals in four matches, including both strikes in Norway's famous victory over Brazil that sent the Scandinavians into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history.

Haaland is not the first football icon to leave a mark on Peru's birth registry. Lionel Messi remains one of the country's biggest inspirations, with 3,402 Peruvians carrying his name, including 292 registered as "Lionel Messi".

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Cristiano Ronaldo has also inspired 1,185 namesakes, while Spain sensation Lamine Yamal has 1,241 Peruvians named after him.

Still, no footballer comes close to Neymar, whose popularity remains unmatched in Peru, with an astonishing 33,809 people bearing the Brazilian superstar's name.

WORLD CUP - KNOCKOUT STAGE

Quarter-finals

Thursday

France - Morocco 2-0 (0-0)

/Mbappe 60, Dembele 66/

Friday

Spain - Belgium 2-1 (1-1)

/Ruiz 30, Merino 88 - De Ketelaere 41/

Sunday

00.00: (4.00) Norway (3.70) England (1.90)

04.00: (1.75) Argentina (3.50) Switzerland (5.50)

***odds are subject to change***