According to Peru's National Registry of Identification and Civil Status (RENIEC), most Haaland namings were recorded in the weeks following the World Cup's start. The surge was particularly notable in early July when the Norway national team defeated Brazil to advance to the quarterfinals. In this year's tournament, the 25-year-old forward scored 7 goals, including a brace that helped Norway defeat Brazil in the knockout round.

Forward Haaland during the match against Brazil at East Rutherford Stadium, New Jersey, on 5/7. Photo: AP

Peruvian regulations allow parents to freely choose names for their children, provided they are not offensive. Ivan Torres, a RENIEC spokesperson, stated that parents naming children after famous players is not new. "Football stars are always a source of inspiration for many Peruvian families when naming their children", Torres said.

RENIEC statistics highlight the broader trend: Neymar is the most popular name, with 33,809 individuals. The country also has 3,402 people named Messi (including 292 with the full name Lionel Messi), 1,241 named Yamal, and 1,185 named Cristiano Ronaldo.

Erling Haaland's impressive performances made him the most beloved and discussed star of the 2026 World Cup. During about one month in the US, Haaland's social media followers increased by 50%. From 40 million before the World Cup, it rose to 62 million as of 11/7. The Norwegian superstar's fan growth was among the highest at this World Cup. This figure surpassed the approximately 10 million new fans gained by Ronaldo or the 5 million gained by Messi and Mbappe, who play for more renowned teams. Only Vozinha, the goalkeeper from Cape Verde, ranked above Haaland in terms of fan growth.

Nhat Minh (According to France24, financialexpress)