Erling Haaland may not have won a World Cup in the United States but he returned home to Norway with a pretty good backup prize: a taxidermy 'Whiskey Raccoon' he picked up in Dallas.Show Caption
Norway striker and internet sensation Erling Haaland was spotted with a curious-looking critter as he disembarked from his national football team's flight to Oslo after their crushing World Cup loss to England.Haaland was carrying what looked like a raccoon holding a bottle of booze as he left the plane on Monday, July 13.It turns out Haaland was carrying a "Whiskey Raccoon" from the Wild Bill's Western Store in Dallas, where the 25-year-old soccer star and other members of the Norway traveling party stopped following the team's 2-1 win over the Ivory Coast in the Round of 32 last month."It followed me home," Haaland wrote in an X post on July 13. He then asked his followers to help name the figure in an Instagram story, with the options Cowboy, Ranger, TEX and R.O.W., short for Raccoon On Wheels.Video of the visit posted to Haaland's YouTube page shows him buying cowboy hats and other apparel from the store.The visit sparked viral interest, particularly after Haaland wore the store's "Y’all can kiss my Dallas" shirt, which he can be seen donning on Wild Bill's Western Store's website."It's really special when this happens for a small store like us," Julie Newport, owner of Wild Bill's Western, told USA TODAY in an interview during a "busy" day at the store on July 13.She noted that the availability of the "Whiskey Raccoon," priced at $750, is limited as the supplier's taxidermist has retired. The item was listed as sold out on July 13, though the website said that inventory was on the way.Haaland becomes off-field star during Norway's World Cup runNorway's run in the World Cup served as an off-field breakout for Haaland, an on-field superstar who also plays for Manchester United.Documenting his exploits during Norway's World Cup run across the United States on social media, Haaland was seen embracing American fans and all the country has to offer. For Haaland, the feeling is mutual.“I think it’s a good thing because I like the Americans,” Haaland said at media availability ahead of Norway's eventual loss to England, which knocked them out of the tournament. “I think they are kind of hilarious, as well. They are funny. So I like the way they are.”
