Anastasia Kostromitina, who has gone viral with putting likeness to Norway’s Erling Haaland, poses in Moscow, Russia, July 10, 2026. — Reuters
Family and friends have for a number of years advised Russian mannequin Anastasia Kostromina that she regarded like Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, nevertheless it was not till he turned the World Cup’s famous person that she determined to take that on-line.
Earlier this month, she posted a video on Instagram highlighting the resemblance to Haaland — each in seems and mimicking a few of his now-trademark mannerisms and distinctive facial expressions.
It quickly spiralled and gathered 6.4 million likes.
“At first, I did not even know what was happening, it felt like a dream,” Kostromina advised AFP in Moscow, saying she “never expected” the video to go so viral.
“But I’m happy about it anyway,” the 24-year-old added.
Haaland, 25, has been the social media sensation of the World Cup, with the Manchester Metropolis participant now counting 68.8 million followers on social media.
Haaland sparkled on the match scoring seven occasions — together with a double towards Brazil of their final 16 match — as Norway reached the quarter-finals solely to lose 2-1 to England.
Kostromina had blended emotions when she was first advised she regarded just like the towering male footballer — however has now embraced it.
“At first, to be honest, I didn’t even understand how I could possibly resemble a male football player. But then I started to take it with a sense of humour and now I’m completely fine with it.”
Naturally, she was supporting Norway within the World Cup and was unhappy after they misplaced.
“I was really rooting for them and was on the edge of my seat,” she mentioned of their final recreation within the competitors.
Russia has been principally banned from worldwide sport for the reason that begin of the Ukraine struggle in 2022 and didn’t participate within the World Cup.
Kostromina — who’s represented by Moscow-based Movement Mannequin Administration — hoped that Haaland will “see my video, maybe even laugh.”
