New Delhi: A few days ago, Norwegian striker Erling Haaland gained notoriety on social media after several posts claimed that Spider-Man actor Tom Holland had invited the footballer to hang out.
Posts circulating on Instagram and X further claimed that Haaland never replied because he had no idea who the actor was. Many dismissed the story as a hoax.
However, Holland has now confirmed on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon that he did reach out to the Viking.
“I texted him thinking, ‘I’ll take him to dinner.’ But there wasn’t even a response—not an excuse, not ‘I’m busy tonight, I’m playing football,’ nothing. Nada”, said Holland on the show.
“No more dinners”
According to social media, Haaland, 25, does not watch movies and therefore does not know about the British actor.
Holland appeared on the late-night talk show to promote his two upcoming films, The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day, on 13 July. During the conversation, the actor also revealed that he was in Monaco, watching British racing champion Lewis Hamilton, when he saw Haaland in a “hospitality suite” across from him.
“I just thought I’d shoot my shot. I sent him a text—Holland to Haaland. I never imagined I’d end up talking about it on live television, but here we are”, he told Fallon.
The Man City player, however, did not respond to his DM.
Following this, Fallon asked him if he would like to go to dinner with Haaland now, to which Holland responded, “I don’t think he would have dinner with me after the other day.”
On Sunday, Norway lost the match to England in the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup. After 28 years, England could win the championship. Holland, who is rooting for England, praised Haaland.
“He is incredible, an absolute legend,” he said, adding that it was a “humbling experience.”
“That is exactly the type of humbling experience that is important for actors”, he said.
On the show, Fallon even sang a song explaining the difference between Haaland and Holland—a comic take on their resembling surnames.
“Holland Holland Holland Holland, Holland, one’s an actor, one’s a striker, both are men, but one’s a spider. He’s in movies like a million, one looks like a diehard villain. One is not a soccer player, but he’s married to Zendaya. One’s Norwegian, not Hungarian, looks just like a Targaryen,” Fallon sang.
Also Read: Meet Haaland, ‘Jaat of Norway’—the World Cup Viking who loves butter chicken & goals
Embarrassed Haaland
In a video posted 23 days ago from Norwegian interview show A Laget, Haaland said he was embarrassed.
“This is a bit embarrassing, to be completely honest. We were in Monaco at the Formula 1, and then I got a message. I don’t watch movies much, so I have no idea who people are. There was one asking if we could go out for dinner, but I’d never seen him, so I didn’t bother to answer. I didn’t want to answer an unknown person,” he said.
Haaland, who is known for his goofy personality, laughed at the entire situation.
“I think I will have to send him a message now. I had completely forgotten about it,” he said.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)