At Manchester City, Erling Braut Haaland's name is printed simply as "Haaland," a short, crisp name instantly recognizable in the football world, much like his father, Alf-Inge Haaland.
But in this World Cup—the first major tournament for Norway in many years, since their last appearance in the 1998 World Cup in France—things are different.
Haaland, as Norway's number one striker and arguably one of the best forwards globally, previously had just the name "Haaland" on his jersey, but it has now been extended to "Braut Haaland"
on the Norway national team jersey. Fans of Manchester City or those who follow football closely know Haaland's full name is Erling Braut Haaland. The surname Haaland comes from his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, a former defender who played for Leeds United and Manchester City. The name "Braut"
comes from his mother, Gre Marita Braut, a former professional heptathlete.
The Athletic, part of The New York Times, interviewed Ivar Utne, a former linguistics professor at the University of Bergen, who explained that about 6 in 10 Norwegians have a middle name from their mother's side, and this tradition is more common among younger generations.
While many shorten their names abroad for convenience, they revert to their full names when in Norway. Haaland's case isn't creating a new custom but reflects the normal Norwegian way of life presented on a larger international stage.
The Athletic also noted that "Braut Haaland" was not used on his jersey from the start. During World Cup 2026 qualifiers, where he scored 16 goals in 8 matches, his shirt initially showed just "Haaland" in the early games against Estonia and Italy, before switching to "Braut Haaland" in the later matches leading into the World Cup tournament.
Liv Birgit Christensen, author of a Norwegian genealogy book, commented that Haaland's choice honors his mother's side, which is often overlooked since middle names are rarely used daily.
Haaland is not alone; Kristoffer Ajer, a Brentford defender, has added "Vassbakk Ajer"—his maternal grandfather's surname who passed away in 2017—to his national team name since joining Norway's senior squad in 2018.
In summary, these players choose longer names that reflect their family roots. On jerseys, the names do more than identify players on the field; they express family heritage and national culture through football.
Haaland could have played for England, having been born in Leeds in 2000 while his father was a player there, but he has consistently represented Norway from youth levels through to the senior national team.Today, Haaland is a world-class striker and one of the highest-paid forwards globally, earning £525,000 per week with an additional £350,000 in bonuses. His total weekly pay from Manchester City exceeds £875,000 before taxes. Transfermarkt values him at £170 million.Transfermarkt
is valued at £170 million.
Photo: Getty ImagesSource: The Athletic[1],