Erling Haaland has become a top contender during his breakout run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With 42 million followers on Instagram, he’s one of the most famous faces on the pitch. As curiosity grows about him, fans were wondering if he has a special woman cheering him on from the sidelines.
The 25-year-old Norwegian striker is one of football’s most dominant goal scorers. But away from the spotlight, Haaland has built a life with his longtime partner, Isabel Haugseng Johansen.
The couple has kept most of their relationship out of public view, but their quiet and private love story is precious, and they even had a child.
A childhood connection
© GettyBefore Haaland became one of the most feared strikers in the world, he was just a kid in Bryne, Norway, training at the local football club. He made his professional debut when he was 15 years old for Bryne FK. She began playing for the women’s side of the club when she was 13.
In an October 2025 YouTube video, Haaland said he didn’t remember them meeting when they were kids. “She remembers many times that she’s been seeing me when we were younger, but I don’t,” he said.
He adorably said he believed it was “fate” that they met. Their shared interest in soccer has been a part of the glue that holds them together. “She played football,” Haaland said. “It’s nice because you understand football.”
While they played for the same club, their romance didn’t start until years later in 2021. According to Haaland, she made the first move. “She sent me a message,” he said during a 2025 interview with Norwegian broadcaster NRK. “She was the one who checked me out. I wasn’t the one who checked her out.”
They welcomed their first child in 2024
© GettyThe couple welcomed their first child together, a son, in December 2024. Though Haaland and Johansen remain private, the striker has opened up about fatherhood and how it affected him, especially mentally.
According to him, becoming a dad may have actually improved his game. “You can be physically ready, but you also need to be mentally ready,” he told the Associated Press while reflecting on the best form of his career.
He said fatherhood forced him to disconnect instead of obsessing about the sport once he gets home, “to be honest, with a kid, it makes me even better because I actually disconnect more than ever,” he said.
“I don’t think of football at all, which sometimes, when you are younger, you think of this and that. You worry a little bit about things. But when I go home, I relax even more,” he continued, adding, “I think I need to give a shout-out to my son.”
Who is she?
Johansen has over 200k followers on Instagram, where she shares glimpses of her life and special moments with Haaland. She’s been showing support for him throughout the tournament, proudly wearing Norway’s jersey.
She recently starred on the cover of KK magazine, where she shared a look into her life and opened up about the struggle of balancing the private and public sectors. “I want to protect my family, but at the same time I want people to have the opportunity to get to know me and who I am better,” she said. “Then the challenge becomes setting boundaries for what is private and what is not.”
She was born in July 2004 in Jæren, Norway, with her parents and siblings. She stopped playing soccer during the coronavirus pandemic after losing motivation.
Now, she seems to be building her own brand as an influencer and fashion enthusiast.
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