Erling Haaland, Manchester City’s star striker, wasn’t cramming tactics or googling his opponent before the most important match of the season. He was robbing banks in GTA V. Seriously. This behavior is evidence that the footballer is not at all indifferent to video games.
The Norwegian is a well-known gamer, and currently his attention is focused on Grand Theft Auto VI. In a recent interview, the footballer was asked about his favorite pastimes. His answer was immediate: the cult series from Rockstar Games. Discussing the upcoming hit, Haaland barely concealed his enthusiasm—he literally can’t wait for its release. And when asked a hypothetical question, “What one game would you take to a desert island?” the striker blurted out without pause: “The latest GTA.”
Tellingly, this attitude is nothing new to those who follow Haaland’s life off the pitch. Here’s a story that explains it all. A couple of months ago, before the decisive match of the season, instead of being nervous or discussing tactics with his teammates, the striker locked himself in a hotel room with a gamepad. While everyone else was kicking around FIFA, Håland preferred robbing virtual banks in GTA V’s story mode and shouting to his friends that he was running from the cops with bags of cash. Now that’s preparation—an unprecedented level of focus on gameplay.
Why did Erling Haaland choose GTA over FIFA?
Apparently, the Norwegian prefers chaos and freedom to tactical simulations. And this perfectly illustrates how video games have become completely mainstream. GTA 6 is being chased not only by teenagers but also by Ballon d’Or winners. Rockstar Games’ release is no longer just a gaming event, but a pop culture phenomenon. When the game finally arrives in stores (and digital stores), Håland will likely disappear into the fictional State of Leonidas for dozens of hours. And will most likely ignore FIFA again.
