Erling Haaland earned significant attention for his football performances long before the recent World Cup. However, following the tournament held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, even casual sports fans who typically avoid the English Premier League are now familiar with his name.

The scale of the hype surrounding the Norwegian superstar is particularly visible in Peru. According to a report by the news agency AFP, the Peruvian civil registry confirms that 468 children in the country carry the 25-year-old’s surname.

The data further reveals that another 91 babies have been given the full name Erling Haaland. Ivan Torres, a spokesperson for the registration office, explained the trend to Panamericana Television, noting that various football stars frequently serve as inspiration for Peruvian parents when they register their children’s names.

Torres stated that the majority of these newborns were registered in the weeks following the start of the World Cup. The number of registrations saw a sharp increase when Norway reached the quarter-finals of the tournament.

Haaland is not the only football icon celebrated in Peru through naming traditions. The civil registry indicates that 3,402 children are named after Lionel Messi, 1,185 bear the name of Cristiano Ronaldo, 1,241 are named after Lamine Yamal, and 33,809 children share the name of Neymar.