The Norwegian striker joins a prestigious group of celebrities, politicians, and global figures to appear on the cover of the bi-weekly TIME magazine, widely considered a definitive chronicle of our times. Haaland follows in the footsteps of Mario Balotelli, the first Man City player to receive this honor in 11/2012.
Blending storytelling and interviews, TIME portrays the 25-year-old striker as a figure who "looks like the Norse god Thor, but sometimes celebrates goals in the lotus position".
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Haaland on the cover of Time magazine. TIME |
Haaland on the cover of Time magazine. TIME
The interview, conducted partly in Manchester and completed in Boca Raton, Florida during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, delves into Haaland's life story.
He recalls the pressure he felt at 15, playing for Bryne FK in Norway, where he failed to score in 16 games. He found this more daunting than playing for Man City in front of millions. "I felt like everyone was watching, and if I didn’t play well, it was the end of the world," Haaland shared. "It shouldn’t be like that. But in the end, it's all in your head."
After moving to Molde, a larger Norwegian club, where he spent two seasons, one under former Man Utd legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Haaland experienced his first time living away from home when he joined Red Bull Salzburg in Austria in 2019. He described the challenges: "I missed the Norwegian language, my family, my friends. The coach was shouting in German, and I was thinking, ‘I don’t understand what he's saying.’ I was like, ‘What am I doing here?’"
Despite an invitation from Solskjaer to join Man Utd, Haaland signed with Dortmund in late 2019, then joined Man City three years later. "I felt like I was the final piece of the puzzle," Haaland explained, regarding his decision to choose City despite offers from other major clubs. "Even though they were already successful, I still felt very welcome. That gave me motivation and confidence to come here and try my best."
Despite initial concerns about his adaptation to Man City, especially given his high-profile transfer and the perceived "selfish" nature of a striker, Haaland integrated seamlessly.
At Etihad, Haaland's unique health regimen became a source of amusement for his teammates. He enjoys ice baths and wears blue-light-blocking glasses before bed to avoid sleep disruption. Occasionally, he consumes beef heart. "For me, it's very important to eat as natural and clean as possible", Haaland stated. He sources his ingredients from a farm near his home in England, with a dedicated beef heart supplier.
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Haaland scores the winning goal for Man City against Brentford 1-0 at Etihad Stadium on 20/2/2024. Reuters |
Haaland scores the winning goal for Man City against Brentford 1-0 at Etihad Stadium on 20/2/2024. Reuters
Man City's media team initially worried about Haaland's often terse interview style. During his time at Dortmund, he often gave one- or two-word answers to the press. A YouTube compilation of Haaland's media interactions, titled "Erling Haaland wasn't born to be interviewed" with the hashtag #cringe, has garnered 2 million views.
Now, Haaland is more open with the press. "Yes, I’m older and more mature now", shared Haaland, who welcomed his first child last December. However, true to his strong personality, he also attributed some of his reticence to the media. "You ask, ‘How’s the weather?’ I say, ‘Good.’ You get the answer you deserve. That’s my whole point. Ask stupid questions, get stupid answers."
When asked if he is the best player in the world, Haaland replied: "No, I'm just one of them". Acknowledging Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's two-decade dominance, Haaland doesn't believe he or any of his peers can reach their heights. "Their records, no one can break them," he said. "Not even me."
Despite setting numerous scoring records, including his 300th goal in just 370 matches across club and international play, Haaland still faces criticism for being a "clumsy giant", or a "tap-in merchant". When asked about this nickname, Haaland laughed. "What’s the hardest thing in football?", he countered. "Being a tap-in merchant means you score a lot of goals, right? That’s the answer. I like it when people call me that. I love that nickname. It means you’re doing something right. That many others can't do."
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Haaland prepares for a tap-in goal as Man City defeats Tottenham 2-0 on 14/5/2024. AP |
Haaland prepares for a tap-in goal as Man City defeats Tottenham 2-0 on 14/5/2024. AP
In 1/2025, Haaland and Man City agreed to a 9.5-year contract extension, the longest in Premier League history. "It's pretty normal for me," Haaland said. "The club has put a lot of trust in me. I feel good about it."
Man City ended last season trophyless and were eliminated in the round of 16 of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, leading some to speculate that it was karmic retribution for Haaland telling Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to "be humble" last September.
However, Haaland doesn't regret his words. Unfazed by the mockery, he said: "I think that's an important sentence that many people should use, including me. Being humble is one of the most important things for a person. They won 5-1. So, they humbled me."
Reflecting on the unsuccessful season, he added: "I'm pretty calm in my mind. That’s the positive mindset to give to others, even if things can be hectic. I almost forgot what last season was like until someone reminded me. I can’t keep thinking about the last season. It wasn't good enough. But that's the beauty of football. There's always something new ahead. You have to think about what’s coming and live in the present moment."
Hoang Thong (via TIME)
