I'm the kind of casual sports fan who only really pays attention to World Cup news when a WAG does or wears something interesting, so I don't know much about athlete friendships. At least, I didn't—until I found out that English footballer Jude Bellingham and Norwegian player Erling Haaland have a well-known bromance. (Sorry, I know we all agreed to leave that word behind in the era of watchable Judd Apatow movies, but what else would you call it?)
Photo: Getty Images
Bellingham and Haaland's friendship started when they both played for the German club Borussia Dortmund between 2020 and 2022. If there's one thing I truly love, it's straight men who aren't afraid to show physical affection. To be clear, I don't think they deserve awards for it or anything (I hug and cheek-kiss my friends all the time! Where's my medal?), but I still adore it. Were Bellingham and Haaland kind of teasing us with their Valentine's Day video from four years ago, where they read cheesy pickup lines like "I'm sorry to let you know that you are under arrest... for stealing my heart" to each other? I mean, no (again, straight men can be silly like that! It's not against the rules!), but I'm just saying, there's a reason why online fan fiction is full of Bellingham/Haaland content. That reason might just be the platonic but undeniably strong chemistry the two athletes share, whether they're on social media or on the field.
In a story that feels straight out of a steamy fan fiction, Bellingham and Haaland will face each other as rivals on Saturday when England plays Norway in the World Cup. But honestly, I'm not worried about their bond. "I haven't spoken to him. The last time I spoke to him was when I met him in Las Vegas, but I haven't spoken to him since," Haaland told TV 2 Sport about whether he'd checked in with Bellingham before Saturday's match. "He's probably focused on himself, England, and everything that's going on there." I mean, fair enough! If I were about to try to beat my best friend Jazmine at Scrabble or competitive double-cleansing or one of our other shared hobbies, I probably wouldn't be calling her right before, you know?
Personally, I'm not sure if I'm rooting for England or Norway, or if I'll even watch their match on Saturday (I have a baby shower and birthday drinks to go to—I'm a busy, femme-coded girl!). But I still admire Bellingham and Haaland's friendship, even if it sometimes takes a backseat while they play. If there's one thing I've learned from rewatching Friday Night Lights while I drink coffee and send emails, it's that athletic competition can really bring out the worst in players. But Bellingham and Haaland's friendship is much-needed proof that it can also bring out the best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the I want what they have friendship between Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland written in a natural tone
Beginner Questions
1 What is the I want what they have thing about Bellingham and Haaland
Its a popular online phrase fans use to describe the super close fun and supportive friendship between soccer stars Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland People say it because their bond looks so genuine and enviable
2 How did Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland become friends
They became teammates at Borussia Dortmund in Germany They hit it off immediately because they were both young ambitious and had a great sense of humor Their chemistry on and off the pitch was instant
3 Are Bellingham and Haaland still friends even though they play for different clubs now
Yes absolutely They still hang out support each other on social media and joke around Theyve said in interviews that their friendship is strong even though theyre rivals at Real Madrid and Manchester City
4 Whats a good example of their friendship
A famous example is when Haaland scored a goal and celebrated by doing Bellinghams signature celebration Another is them constantly liking and commenting funny things on each others Instagram posts or hugging after big matches
5 Why do people say they have best friend energy
Because they act like goofy best friends from school They tease each other celebrate each others wins and seem genuinely happy for each others success which is rare in highlevel professional sports
Intermediate Advanced Questions
6 Is their friendship just for the cameras or is it real
Everything points to it being very real Teammates and coaches from Dortmund have talked about how inseparable they were Their body language in interviews and the fact they stay in touch after leaving the same club suggests its not just a PR stunt
7 How did their friendship affect their performance at Borussia Dortmund
It created a positive competitive energy They pushed each other to be better in training and had a telepathic understanding during games Their linkup play was a huge reason Dortmund was so exciting to watch