Erling Haaland is bringing back surprising Millennial trend popular among women
Forget polyester jerseys and studded boots, because Erling Haaland is making another unexpected accessory 'cool' again.
While the Norway striker has been doing what he does best on the pitch since the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off last month, he's also emerged as one of the tournament's biggest off-field stars.
The online arena has been flooded with knee-snapping memes about the 25-year-old's deadpan personality, clips of his infamous 'Viking strut' and footage of wholesome interactions with his teammates.
In all of them, Haaland is seen wearing his white blonde tresses slicked back into a signature bun - a look that has remained recognisable amongst footie fans since he joined the Premier League as Manchester City's top goal-scorer in 2022.
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Since the World Cup commenced this year, however, it's the colourful hair ties keeping his golden locks in place that have caught the attention of fans, given how often he chops and changes the shade.
According to some fashion experts, in swapping out mundane blonde bobbles for bright woven elastics for his high-intensity matches, Haaland has accidentally revived a nostalgic Millennial trend that many women will remember wearing every day in the late 90s and early 2000s.
For plenty of girls, those colourful hair ties were a staple school accessory, stacked around wrists or stuffed into every handbag, before minimalist neutral hair ties eventually took over.
Discussing the significance of the comeback, celebrity stylist and owner of Jay B Haircare, Jay Birmingham asked Tyla: "Who would have thought that hair ties would have become such a hot topic at the World Cup?"
He added: "Erling Haaland has been matching his hair bobbles to his Norway strip, which seems like such a small detail, but it showcases his own individual style and personality.
"The popularity of hair accessories has grown as people now view them as a fun way to add a personal touch to their look – the hair ties which Haaland used have sold out!"
Birmingham added: "Small details like hair accessories can completely transform your look and as Haaland has demonstrated – they’re a great way to add a pop of colour and support your team!"
Haaland doesn't wear just any luminescent hairband, however. In fact, he's been relying on bespoke bobbles from the Norwegian brand KKNEKKI by Bon Dep for years now, and became a minority investor in the company back in 2024.
The brand even introduced a special Haaland collection, featuring brightly coloured woven hair ties that are designed to grip hair without snagging or causing breakage, and are inspired by the teams he's represented throughout his career.
According to representatives of the company, the hair ties come in hundreds of different colour combinations, which explains why Haaland rarely seems to wear the same one twice.
It's a surprisingly old-school trend, and we're here for it.
Topics: Football, World Cup, Sport, World News, Hair
Rhianna Benson