Get free access to the most comprehensive World Cup coverage in The Athletic appErling Haaland is perhaps the most recognisable striker at this World Cup. But while his five goals in three matches have come as no surprise, the name on the back of his shirt has caught many off guard.The 25-year-old has ‘Haaland’ on the back of his shirts for his club side, Manchester City. But at Norway’s first major tournament since 2000, the name on the back of his shirt reads ‘Braut Haaland’.‘Braut’ is the surname of Halaand’s mother, former professional heptathlete Gry Marita. Former Premier League defender Alf-Inge Haaland is the striker’s father.Legally, his full name is Erling Braut Haaland. In Norway, middle names are often inherited family surnames, commonly from the mother’s side, allowing family names to be preserved across generations.Haaland told the BBC earlier this year that he was proud of his mother, and the pair were pictured together holding the trophy after Manchester City’s Champions League title win in 2023.While it is the biggest stage on which it has happened, the World Cup is not the first time Haaland has displayed his mother’s surname.Early in his career, Haaland often went by the double surname before dropping ‘Braut’. He now reserves it in a football context for when he is representing his nation.But he has not always sported ‘Braut’ for Norway, either.Haaland only started using the full name recently (Fredrik Varfjell/NTB/AFP via Getty Images)In their World Cup qualifying campaign, where the striker scored 16 goals in eight games, ‘Haaland’ occupied the back of his shirt for early matches against Estonia and Italy. He made the change last summer, with ‘Braut Haaland’ visible in the return fixtures as Norway clinched qualification.