Peru’s national identity registry has revealed that hundreds of newborns have been named after Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland in recent weeks, as the striker leads his team through the 2026 World Cup.

According to the registry, 468 Peruvian babies now carry Haaland as their surname, whilst another 91 have been registered with the full name Erling Haaland.

The Manchester City forward, who has scored seven goals in four World Cup matches, has captured the imagination of Peruvian football fans. Haaland (25) scored both goals in Norway’s victory against Brazil and has helped his team reach their first-ever World Cup quarter-final, where they face England on Saturday.

“Different football stars serve as inspiration for Peruvians to register their children with these names,” registry spokesperson Ivan Torres told Panamericana Television.

Most of the Haaland registrations occurred in the weeks following the tournament’s start, with numbers increasing after Norway secured their quarter-final place.

“Haaland is also Peruvian,” Torres said.

This is not the first time Peruvian parents have turned to football for baby name inspiration. The registry shows 3 402 people in Peru carry the name Messi, with 292 bearing Argentine star Lionel Messi’s full name.

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo has 1 185 Peruvian namesakes, whilst 1 241 are named Yamal after Spain’s Lamine Yamal.

Brazil’s Neymar remains the most popular footballer-inspired name, with 33 809 Peruvians sharing the name.

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