Erling Haaland brought a taxidermy friend back from America

Jul 13, 2026 - 21:45

England secured a place in the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after overcoming a challenging deficit to defeat the tournament’s surprise team, Norway, 2-1 in a thrilling extra-time quarterfinal at Hard Rock Stadium. Norway initially took control of the match when Andreas Schjelderup scored in the 36th minute, taking advantage of a dominant period that left England on the defensive. The Nordic team missed a golden opportunity to extend their lead when Alexander Sorloth chose not to pass to a wide-open Erling Haaland during a key breakaway. Taking full advantage of this missed chance, England’s Jude Bellingham equalized just before halftime and later scored a crucial goal in extra time to secure the victory.

While Norway’s impressive run in the tournament came to an unexpected end, superstar striker Erling Haaland ensured his departure was unforgettable. As reported by ESPN FC on X, the lethal forward surprised onlookers during his journey home:

“Erling Haaland arrives back in Norway with a taxidermy raccoon.”

Erling Haaland arrives back in Norway with a taxidermy raccoon pic.twitter.com/bU4PiaMB5b
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 13, 2026

The viral image shows the Manchester City star disembarking from his flight while carrying the stuffed animal, which is mounted on a wooden base. Adding a bizarre twist to this unique piece, the taxidermy raccoon is positioned as if it is actively holding onto and drinking from an empty liquor bottle. Haaland casually held the eccentric American souvenir under his arm alongside his luxury travel bags, perfectly matching his larger-than-life public persona.

With the international tournament officially concluded, the 25-year-old forward turned to social media to bid a fond farewell to the host nation. Despite the disappointment of the quarterfinal defeat, Haaland’s first World Cup campaign was an individual success, featuring an impressive seven goals and a historic victory over Brazil in the Round of 16. In a characteristic photo on X wearing sunglasses and a wide grin, the striker closed his summer chapter by writing, “Goodbye It’s been emotional!”