FIFA World Cup 2026 star Erling Haaland's female lookalike goes viral over uncanny resemblance; footballer reacts

Norway football star Erling Haaland has been making headlines for his performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the striker has now gone viral for an entirely different reason.

An Instagram creator's hair tutorial sparked a flood of comments from users claiming she bears a striking resemblance to the Norwegian forward, with even Haaland joining in on the joke.The viral moment began when Instagram content creator Emma Kate Willman posted a reel demonstrating how to French braid hair. Instead of focusing on the hairstyle, viewers filled the comments section, saying her blonde hair, facial features and expressions made her look like Haaland.The video has since amassed more than 27 million views, with thousands of users pointing out the resemblance.The comparison eventually reached Haaland himself, who decided to join the fun. Responding to the reel, the footballer left a simple comment that read, "Hi", followed by a thumbs-up emoji.

Creator says the comparisons have taken over her page

In a follow-up video, Willman addressed the unexpected attention, saying the comments had completely taken over her social media page.

"In light of the World Cup, I swear if I get one more comment saying that I look like Erling Haaland," she said, adding that she had gained "probably close to three or four thousand followers on Instagram today."She also joked about the comparisons, saying, "First of all, the best doppelganger you give me is a male soccer player. Really? Can't we just go back to when you guys were calling me Zara Larsson, please? No offence to Haaland at all, but I am very much just a little girl from Charleston."

Internet has a field day

The resemblance quickly became a talking point online, with many users calling the similarity "uncanny" and sharing humorous reactions. Several joked that the creator looked like Haaland's sister, while others said they could not unsee the resemblance once it had been pointed out. The comments turned the hairstyle tutorial into an unexpected viral moment, drawing millions of views and widespread engagement.Meanwhile, Haaland has been playing a key role in Norway's historic World Cup campaign and helping the team reach the quarter-finals for the first time in the nation's history.