As Norway mourns King Harald V, who ascended the throne for 35 years, the national football team star player Erling Haaland also shared his heartfelt tribute to the late monarch.
King Harald passed away on Friday, August 28, at the age of 89, after it was reported that his health is in "extremely serious" condition.
Erling Haaland's honours King Harald V
Turning to his Instagram account on Friday, the football star shared a portrait of Harald, with a text in Norwegian, which read, "Rest in peace, King Harald. Thank you for everything you meant to Norway."
He added, "It was an honour to meet you."
The emotional tribute came just weeks after Haaland and his Norway teammates met King Harald V at the Royal Palace in Oslo.
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Norway's football community mourns King Harald V
The Norwegian soccer community has also joined the nation in mourning, with the country’s football federation postponing matches as a mark of respect.
Norway captain Martin Ødegaard also paid tribute to the King, as he wrote, "Thank you for everything you meant to Norway. A wonderful king and a wonderful man whom we all felt a close connection to. Rest in peace, dear King Harald."
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Erling Haaland met King Harald V after 2026 FIFA World Cup
Both Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard were received by King Harald V, Crown Prince Haakon, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus at the Royal Palace in Oslo following Norway's historic World Cup run.
Manchester City vs Crystal Palace
Following the tribute, Erling made an appearance in the Manchester City vs Crystal Palace match, securing City's second consecutive Premier League opening win.
Manchester City won 4-1 away in the second round of the 2026-2027 Premier League season against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in London, England.
Halaand scored his first goal of the season in the 17th minute, and the final goal was also scored by the year-old in the 39th minute of the second half.
After the match, Haaland shared snaps from the game with the caption "Norway in my heart tonight," once again highlighting the heartbreak his country is going through.
