Is Erling Braut Haaland making his C-drama debut? Norwegian football star inspires viral Chinese posters (MVjagaimo/X)Erling Braut Haaland is grabbing attention for more than his football during the FIFA World Cup 2026. While the Norwegian striker continues to play on the biggest stage, fans in China have turned him into the star of fictional Chinese romance dramas. Edited posters, fan art and game crossovers showing Haaland as a C-drama male lead have spread across Chinese social media, creating one of the tournament’s most unusual fan trends.Erling Braut Haaland becomes an unexpected C-drama heartthrob in ChinaHaaland’s latest viral moment has nothing to do with goals or match highlights. Instead, Chinese fans have been sharing edited movie-style posters that place the Manchester City striker in the role of a romantic lead from a Chinese drama. Many of the images feature polished promotional artwork, giving the impression that Haaland is starring in a real television series.The trend has been especially popular on Xiaohongshu, where users have shared memes, digital artwork and creative edits inspired by the Norwegian forward. Some fans have also placed Haaland inside Love and Deepspace, a popular romance game developed by Papergames. The edits show him alongside the game’s original male characters, blending football with one of China’s biggest gaming communities.The crossover has caught the attention of both football fans and gamers. Rather than focusing only on his performances, many posts celebrate Haaland’s facial expressions, humour and unique personality, which fans believe fit perfectly into the world of romance dramas.Why Erling Braut Haaland’s popularity continues to grow in ChinaHaaland’s strong fan following in China did not begin at the FIFA World Cup 2026. It started during his time at Borussia Dortmund, where his remarkable goalscoring earned him nicknames such as “Nordic Cyborg” and “Robot Striker.” His move to Manchester City in 2022 only expanded his global popularity as he continued breaking scoring records.According to reports, discussions about Haaland on Xiaohongshu have generated hundreds of millions of impressions during the World Cup. Fans have continued creating artwork, memes and fictional stories around him, making him one of the tournament’s biggest online talking points.He has also picked up affectionate nicknames such as “Habao” and “Ha Baby,” showing how fans see a lighter and more playful side of the football star. That connection has helped make the C-drama edits feel like a natural extension of his online popularity.