Erling Haaland turned heads in his debut FIFA World Cup by leading Norway to their first-ever quarterfinal, in America.
If his seven goals in five games were not reason enough, a burgeoning designer bag collection has certainly propelled the Manchester City striker to a global icon.
During the course of the tournament, Haaland has been spotted carrying a multitude of Hermes’ celebrated Haut à Courroies bags.
The design originated in the 19th century and was the inspiration for the wildly popular Birkin bags, making it a vintage legacy collection.
When Norway’s plane touched down in America, Haaland immediately stole the show by flaunting the Hermès Haut à Courroies 50’s Endless Road limited edition bag. Worth close to 50,000 USD, the accessory’s pale base colours are accentuated with vivid pastel illustrations of mountain scenery.
Just days later, Haaland then cemented his image of a bag connoisseur by carrying a darker colourway of the same rare release.
The show continued with the bold black and orange checkered Birkin 40 Casaque, ranging slightly above 30,000 USD.
Such is Haaland’s adoration for these bags that he even stacks them up. During the World Cup, the 25-year-old was captured carrying his girlfriend’s compact Black Box Leather Birkin 25 inside his larger Haut à Courroies bag.
Haaland’s airport watch soon became a World Cup tradition. And boy did it keep delivering.
Out came the recent classic Birkin Rock, released in 2022.
The saddle colourway Birkin 40 Toile threw it back to the origins of the Haut à Courroies bags as a sturdy equestrian carrier.
Haaland delivered the ultimate showstopper when he walked out with the Limited Edition Caban Togo Multipockets HAC Birkin 50. The bag is worth upwards of USD 60,000, with some estimates placing it closer to three quarters of a hundred grand.
All in all, Haaland was spotted with at least seven different Birkin iterations during a month-long stay at the World Cup. The entire collection is estimated to be worth greater than USD 300,000, a number only believed to go upwards in the future.
Haaland even exited the tournament in style, albeit with something slightly different.
As he touched down after defeat, Haaland had a Dolce & Gabbana’s Vacanze Siciliane, from their 2027 menswear collection, to accompany him.
For the world media, Haaland’s obsession may have come as a shock. But the regulars in the footballing landscape will know the Viking is not new to this game.
In the past, Haaland has carried a Hermes Kelly 35 in mesmerising black Togo leather on UEFA Champions League nights. And as with every epicure, Haaland’s love is not limited to the French high-fashion brand.
The striker’s collection also includes the Louis Vuitton 50B Landscape Travel Bag. Haaland even has the eclectic 2023 Keepall Bandoulière 50 “Comics” in his collection, featuring vibrant pop-art comic-style illustrations.
Admirably, Haaland does not forget he owes a large part of his luxuries to City. In their honour, the striker carries the Goyard Jouvence MM Toiletry Bag in sky blue. It perhaps fits well in his Chanel 2024/25 Métiers d’art suitcases.
Afterall, Haaland last year signed a gargantuan 9.5 year contract with Mancunian club that nets him reportedly 80 million USD annually. The new agreement made the 25-year-old the second best paid footballer in Europe, only behind Real Madrid counterpart Kylian Mbappe.
Even though England ended Haaland’s World Cup dream by handing him a 2-1 defeat in Miami, they can only watch as his bag collection grows larger by the day. You can bet on him not trying to hide it either.
