*This content was translated by AI.
His taste is truly exceptional. Erling Haaland of Manchester City, the monstrous striker who led his native Norway to its first-ever quarterfinal appearance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, became a topic of conversation with an eccentric and whimsical souvenir he brought back upon his return home.
The British outlet 'The Sun' reported on the 14th (Korea time) that "World Cup hero Haaland returned home cradling a raccoon taxidermy worth 560 pounds (approximately $750, or about 1.11 million won) as he disembarked from his flight, causing fans to fall even more deeply in love with him."
The Norwegian national team, which finished its tournament after a narrow 1-2 defeat to England in the quarterfinals following an extended match, set foot on home soil. Despite scoring an impressive seven goals in five matches during this tournament, Haaland could not overcome the wall of England and had to sadly abandon his dream of returning with the World Cup trophy.
Fans burst into laughter the moment they saw Haaland disembarking from the plane. Instead of a World Cup championship trophy, Haaland appeared at the arrival hall beaming with joy while holding a peculiar raccoon taxidermy figure clutching a whiskey bottle.
According to 'The Sun', this unique souvenir was reportedly purchased by Haaland during a visit to a famous shop in Dallas, Texas. At the time, Haaland bought various items, including cowboy hats and boots, belt buckles, and cheerful T-shirts with quirky slogans. Among them, the standout item was undoubtedly a rare raccoon taxidermy known by its official name, Whisky Raccoon.
Fans showered him with praise via social networking services (SNS), saying, "Every time I see Haaland, I love him a little more," "I thought he was an interesting player even when playing for Manchester City, but this World Cup showed us what a true star is," and "Bringing back a $750 Whisky Raccoon from Texas and showing it off? That's the freshest and funniest thing I've seen in a while."
Haaland is well known for adhering to a unique diet that includes traditional nourishing parts of cattle such as liver, heart, and kidneys. He is also famous for his rigorous self-management, performing 1,000 sit-ups daily and never skipping ice baths or saunas. Additionally, he is known for the peculiar habit of taping his mouth shut at night to encourage nasal breathing while sleeping.
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*This content was translated by AI.
