Faulty reasoning signals

• Availability Heuristic - 21.9%
• Appeal to Authority - 21.9%
• Halo Effect - 19.1%

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Katherine Cullen MFA, LCSW

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Strength combined with the ability to protect amplifies a man's attractiveness.

Erling Haaland exhibits this in addition to perceived kindness, loyalty, and humor.

These qualities may be interacting to amplify his appeal, helping to explain an international obsession.

Spend more than five seconds on social media and you’ll come across a plethora of posts, memes , and even songs about Norwegian soccer star Erling Haaland. The 6’5” striker with shoulder length blonde hair has been garnering the attention of World Cup enthusiasts and non-sports fans alike for his goal-scoring prowess, humorous Snapchat uploads , and even his love of designer bags . Very few people have strong criticisms to lob against him, and when they do it’s mostly related to the technicality of his game, not necessarily his personality or behavior.

Haaland has also struck a particular chord with women, whose fanfare for and attraction towards the alleged Golden Retriever in a Viking Body has placed among the top 10 “ Sexiest Sportsmen on the Planet .”

Why are we so drawn to Erling Haaland? Let’s take a look at some of the more science-backed reasons.

1. Ability to Protect

Sure, a man’s physical strength is inherently attractive. But strength alone doesn’t always cut it, especially if that strength is used to intimidate or control in a coercive manner. Much more alluring is when a man’s strength is used to protect others, as a 2025 study by Barlev et al . found. Haaland repeatedly positions himself between teammates and defenders during penalty and corner kicks. Multiple clips from live games show him helping teammates and even opponents off the ground, checking in on players after potential injuries, and going in for hugs with rivals after heated matches. This may signal Haaland’s ability not just to be strong and exert brute force when charging down the field or scoring a goal from an upside down kick, but also that he can and does use his strength wisely.

2. Perceived Self-Control Under Pressure

While most of us have not spent any time with Haaland IRL, his public behavior appears to indicate that he has strong emotional control—at least, most of the time. This is evidenced by his ability to not react even when exceedingly provoked by opponents. Haaland is known for rarely retaliating (except, perhaps, when opponents mess with his hair) despite getting grabbed, wrestled, pulled on, and collided into by multiple opponents. Emotional control—and self-control in general—has consistently been shown to be a highly desirable trait in male partners, especially when considering them as long-term mates. This could also help explain Haaland's allure.

3. Ostensible Kindness

Haaland has been seen multiple times and has developed a reputation for his kindness to his fans . Seeing so many examples of Haaland's generosity with his followers may be making a lot of us swoon. Multiple studies have demonstrated that prosocial behavior such as kindness enhances how attractive and beautiful people are rated to be. This is true for both men and women, by the way. Prosociality (a broader scientific term encompassing kindness, warmth, generosity, compassion, and other beneficial-to-others qualities) can even outrank intelligence in beauty evaluations, enhancing someone’s physical appeal above and beyond looks and smarts alone.

One of the most desirable traits in a long-term mate, loyalty is a highly attractive quality in male and female partners alike. Perhaps all of us are perceiving Haaland’s loyalty by the way he appears to prioritize and care for his long-term partner Isabel Haugseng Johnasen , with whom he has a son. Think the time he ensured—despite being awash in the final celebration for Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League—that she had an actual chair to sit on so she didn’t have to pop a squat on the ground.

Naysayers might argue that loyalty isn't the most accurate term for Haaland's behavior, given that he hasn’t proposed to his partner of many years. But it’s important to note that Norway doesn’t have a strong marriage culture. Marriage isn’t as economically advantageous in Norway as it is in some other countries and marriage is largely considered a later symbolic step in a very long-term relationship than a relationship’s real beginning. So give the guy a break, alright?

A huge contributor to Haaland’s virality and appeal is his humor . The playfulness he injects both on and off the field (and particularly online) packs a major punch in terms of his appeal. Just scroll through his Snapchat for some examples of this. It’s likely not surprising to hear how research backs the connection between someone’s ability to make us laugh and how attractive we find them. But it’s worth noting why: Some studies suggest humor signals someone is creative when it comes to problem-solving (an indicator of someone’s ability to benefit and aid us, and therefore help us survive). Others find that humor indicates a mate’s value, possibly by signaling higher intelligence . Either way, Haaland makes us laugh and that strongly adds to how favorably we view him.

Haaland’s athletic ability and physical appearance aren’t the sole reasons the world is currently obsessed with him. Of course, we can’t say for sure what the Norway national team star is like out of the public eye. But in addition to his power on the field, and his looks, his widespread appeal may have a lot to do with what we all perceive as his ability to protect, his emotion regulation and self-control under pressure, his kindness and loyalty, as well as his ability to make us laugh.

Katherine (Schreiber) Cullen, MFA, LCSW, co-author of The Truth About Exercise Addiction: Understanding the Dark Side of Thinspiration, is a psychotherapist and writer based in Knoxville, Tennessee.

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