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Erling Haaland returned to Norway after a career-changing World Cup run, but the attention quickly moved from Norway's quarterfinal exit to the unusual souvenir he carried off the team plane: a taxidermied raccoon holding a whiskey bottle.
The Norwegian striker, 25, landed at Oslo's Gardermoen Airport on July 13, two days after Norway lost 2-1 to England in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals.
A taxidermied animal is a preserved real animal used for display, and Haaland's raccoon immediately stood out as fans shared photos and videos online.
Haaland responded to the attention with a joke on X, writing that the raccoon had followed him home. The post helped push the moment further online, turning what began as a team return after a major tournament defeat into another viral episode around the striker.
He later asked followers on Instagram Stories to help name the raccoon, offering Cowboy, Ranger, TEX, and R.O.W., short for Raccoon on Wheels.
The final option appeared to refer to Norway's rowing celebration, which had also become one of the team's most recognizable World Cup moments.
Fans identified the item as the Whiskey Raccoon from Wild Bill's Western Store in Dallas, Texas, and said it cost $750. Haaland had earlier posted a Snapchat video that appeared to show the same raccoon during the tournament.
The store also drew attention after an X user said Wild Bill's had spoken positively about Haaland's visit. As Haaland stepped off the plane, he was also seen carrying a white and maroon Prada bag, adding to the off-field focus around his return.
Haaland was one of the breakout figures of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after helping Norway reach the quarterfinals, where England ended their run with a 2-1 win.
After the defeat, Haaland thanked supporters on X, saying, "It's been quite a row; thank you for making it so special." In another post, he said goodbye to the United States and described the experience as emotional.
Although Norway did not reach the semifinals, Haaland called the tournament an "insane journey" and said, according to the Associated Press, that it had changed his life.
His return home, however, showed how quickly a major sporting story can be overtaken by a single viral image.
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