ไทย
English
中國人
It's not quite a braid. It's not a ponytail. It's not really a proper bun, either, if we're being precise about it. But it works perfectly on the pitch, and it suits him far better than it did Summer House cast member Amanda Batula, who was mocked by viewers for sporting a "f--k a-- bun" at the explosive reunion for the show's latest season.
What exactly am I referring to? None other than Erling Haaland's iconic man bun, of course.
For me, the Scandinavian forward is the standout figure of the 2026 World Cup—the player that I, as a once-every-four-years soccer viewer, knew virtually nothing about heading into the tournament, but will absolutely never forget now that he and his Norwegian teammates have powered their way into the quarterfinal. Haaland is also currently tied for second in the Golden Boot race, sitting just behind Lionel Messi with 8 goals and level with Kylian Mbappé with 7, and delivered a truly legendary showing when Norway eliminated Brazil in a 2-1 Round of 16 victory—two facts that will only strengthen his global reputation as one of football's brightest talents. But it is his hairstyle I will remember most warmly ... and not solely because it calls Batula's to mind.
Standing 6'5" and weighing 208 pounds, the blonde-haired, blue-eyed Haaland is the spitting image of a Norse God or fearsome Viking warrior. If you swapped his soccer kit for animal hide and replaced the ball with, say, an enormous hammer, you could drop him straight onto the set of Thor, and nobody would bat an eye. If someone told me he came from Winterfell, I'd have no trouble believing it.
And if he were doing anything else with his hair, the whole effect would fall flat. The flowing locks are central to his appeal, part of his narrative, as though he wasn't born of ordinary parents but rather emerged fully formed from the deep Norwegian mountains (again, entirely believable). I love that he opts not to pull it back into a ponytail—despite having more than enough length for one—and instead twists it into the very same "f--k a--" bun that earned Batula such ruthless ridicule. From a practical standpoint, it makes sense; a loose ponytail tail could whip around and block his sightlines, while the half-wrap bun is (1) quick to redo and (2) keeps stray hairs from going rogue.
He is also fiercely protective of his hair overall, believing, as Zlatan Ibrahimović once advised him, that his power lives within its strands. That is why he refuses to cut it, even though, as a professional athlete and one of the most recognizable footballers on the planet, it would be far simpler to shave it all off. Instead, he strides onto the world's grandest stage with a hairstyle that answers the question: what would happen if you started tying your hair back and simply gave up halfway?
I have no choice but to respect it. I love his almost primal, laser-focused mentality; I love his undeniable once-in-a-generation talent; and, above all, I love his devotion to his gloriously chaotic man bun, which, against all odds, actually works.
Enable functional cookies to see this feature.
I'll admit it: I'm fairly late to the Haaland bandwagon. Devoted soccer fans have been on board for years, well acquainted with the striker's flowing hair and distinctive look. But I'm here now, and I'm ready to say: sorry, Amanda—your bun has officially met its match.
More from Sports Illustrated
Brigid Kennedy is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, she covered political news, sporting news and culture at TheWeek.com before transitioning to Livingetc, an interior design publication. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, with dual majors in television, radio and film (from the Newhouse School of Public Communications) and marketing management (from the Whitman School of Management). Outside of work, she enjoys going to the cinema, reading and cheering on the Steelers.