Norway’s Erling Haaland referred to the Argentine after his hat-trick in their World Cup opener, having already named Kane and Mbappé.
Haaland’s classy response after World Cup brace: “Messi is a madman”
At 25, Erling Haaland delivered the kind of World Cup debut most players only dream about. The Norwegian striker scored twice against Iraq, helping steer his country toward a crucial victory and its first points of the tournament. Yet it was not only his performance on the field that caught attention, but also the humility he showed afterward.
Despite being widely regarded as one of the best players in the world, the Manchester City forward was quick to downplay his own status when asked where he ranks among the game’s elite.
“I would say I’m up there, at the top. I don’t think I’ve scored the most goals this season. Statistically, no, I’m not the best. I think Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé have scored more goals than me and that’s the reality, so no, I’m not.”
The same attitude resurfaced shortly after the game at Gillette Stadium in the Boston area. Back on the team plane, Haaland posted a message on social media praising Lionel Messi, who scored a hat-trick against Algeria. Alongside a photo of the Argentine star, he wrote: “Messi is a madman.”
The comments stood in contrast to the image often associated with dominant superstars. Haaland has built a reputation as one of soccer’s most feared goal scorers, both in the Premier League and now on the World Cup stage. Yet his reaction after a two-goal performance suggested a player more interested in recognizing others than celebrating himself.
For many observers, the goals against Iraq reinforced his status among the sport’s elite. But Haaland’s words afterward may have been just as striking, revealing a player determined to keep perspective even as the spotlight grows brighter.
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