They are two of the biggest names in world football with millions of adoring fans across the globe. But scoring a tonne of goals isn’t the only thing Erling Haaland and Cristiano Ronaldo have in common.
From their love of designer £2,000 pyjamas to lookalike girlfriends and quirky match rituals, all signs show that the pair are truly twinning. Here, we look at seven signs that prove that Manchester City’s title winner is slowly but surely becoming the Premier League’s next Cristiano Ronaldo.
Matching fashion
The two men are known for their love of fashion and luxury designer brands. Haaland, 22, has been spotted in pricey designer gear from fashion houses such as Dolce and Gabbana and Burberry, while Ronaldo, 38, enjoys the designs of Gucci and Jacob & Co.
The pair have also made headlines for wearing luxury pyjamas out and about. This week, Haaland celebrated Manchester City’s win by wearing light blue PJs.
He owns a vast collection including a Mojolica print that set him back over £2,400 and a Burberry set that costs £1,680. Ronaldo has also dabbled in the pyjama fashion craze – he was spotted on a luxury yacht in a £1,800 Louis Vuitton set in 2020.
The key to their perfectly toned bodies appears to be their shared love for hi-tech ice chambers. In 2021, it was reported that Ronaldo had a £50,000 cryotherapy chamber shipped from Turin to Manchester to help keep him in shape.
He reportedly likes to spend three minutes in the chamber at a temperature of -160C. Last year, it was claimed that Haaland had also splashed the same amount on a cryotherapy chamber to help stay in top condition.
He is said to have ordered the walk-in ice pod to his home in Cheshire. Cryotherapy has been noted to have a number of benefits including pain relief, muscle healing, aiding weight loss and reducing inflammation.
Copycat diet
Haaland follows a strict diet and does not drink alcohol or go to nightclubs, although he had admitted that he enjoys a glass of pina colada. His diet changed when he was playing for Red Bill Salzburg and consists of mostly fish. Apparently, he was convinced after hearing it was one of the factors keeping Ronaldo in perfect physical condition in his mid-30s.
Dad Alf-Inge Haaland said: “He was told a story by Patrice Evra about a lunch he had with Ronaldo and Cristiano had fish, nothing else. Erling now tries to do the same things because Ronaldo is still at the top of the game, so it shows the value of doing the right things.”
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo likes to keep himself disciplined with customised meal plans recommended by a personal dietician. His diet typically consists of “six high-protein, high-grain, low-fat mini-meals a day.”
He is also a big fan of cheese, ham and low-fat yoghurt for breakfast, with a preference for fish and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Ronaldo also stays away from alcohol and sugary drinks and snacks and only drinks alcohol.
Lookalike girlfriends
Both Ronaldo and Haaland have glamorous, lookalike girlfriends who seem to have set themselves apart from the average WAG. Georgina Rodriguez, 29, has managed to establish herself as a businesswoman and socialite and has her own Netflix reality show.
With close to 50million people following her, she is the most followed WAG on Instagram. The former Gucci ship worker, who has been dating Ronaldo since 2017, has now become a model and a brand ambassador in her own right.
Isabel, 19, is Haaland’s girlfriend who left her home country of Norway to live with him. But she’s not just the girlfriend of one of the best players in the world – she’s also a footballer herself, with the couple said to have met through the sport.
When Erling made the move to City, student Isabel – who has played for local Norwegian club Bryne – was granted permission to study remotely so she could be with him.
Pre-match habit
This month, eagle-eyed fans were sent into overdrive when they concluded that Haaland and Ronaldo appear to have one odd pre-match habit in common.
When Haaland posed for pictures alongside his teammates before their semi-final clash with Real Madrid, many fans saw that he was standing on his tiptoes. The pose has been a favourite of Ronaldo’s for years, especially when posing with a group of people.
A fan pointing it out on Instagram made the comment: “You’re already the tallest in the team”.
One fan replied: “Bros trying to be like his idol Cristiano”.
Another added: “He is copying Ronaldo in every single thing”.
Record setters
There’s no denying that Haaland and Ronaldo are two of the best players – they have both played for Manchester-based clubs and have impressive track records to show for it. Ronaldo spent six seasons at Manchester United between 2003 and 2009 before returning in 2021, while Haaland joined Manchester City in the summer of 2022.
Ronaldo holds the record for most international goals, according to UEFA, having scored 122 times for Portugal since making his debut in 2003. He also holds the record for the most appearances in the Champions League, having played in the tournament 183 times.
Meanwhile, Haaland has been busy building his own impressive legacy – the Norwegian this year broke the record for the most goals in a Premier League season. After scoring his 35th goal against West Ham, he moved past Alan Shearer and Andrew Cole, who have 34 goals between them.
Many have pointed to Haaland being one of the few players to break the records set by Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Last year, Haaland’s Manchester City teammate, Bernardo Silva, who has had the chance to play with both spoke about how they stack up against each other.
He said: “I was speaking with a few friends the other day and I said [Haaland] is the only player who gets close to Cristiano in terms of knowing where the ball will land inside the box.”
And this year, he said: “[Haaland] has definitely got the same mentality as Cristiano, always wanting to be in the box, always wanting to score.
“He doesn’t care if he touches the ball one or two times, when he touches he scores. He’s just a proper striker.”
Source: thesun.co.uk
