Haaland celebrates 26th birthday with girlfriend on Italian yacht
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland marked his birthday with a luxury yacht trip in Italy alongside girlfriend Isabel Haugseng Johansen and their son, just weeks after Norway's historic World Cup quarter-final run.
Haaland celebrates 26th birthday with girlfriend on Italian yacht
Norwegian football star Erling Haaland celebrated turning 26 with girlfriend Isabel Haugseng Johansen on a luxury yacht off the Italian coast, capping a remarkable summer that saw him lead Norway to their best-ever World Cup finish.
Johansen shared glimpses of the celebrations on social media, posting a selfie with Haaland wearing a black tank top and gold cross chain while she wore a light blue dress. "Happy birthday my love," she wrote, with Haaland responding simply, "Nice."
A year of exceptional achievement
The Manchester City striker, born on July 21, 2000, in Leeds, England while his father Alfie Haaland played for Leeds United, has particular reason to celebrate after an exceptional year. He finished as the Premier League's top scorer with 27 goals in the 2025-26 season, contributing 38 goals across all competitions as City won both the FA Cup and EFL Cup, though they finished second in the league and exited the Champions League in the Round of 16.
The birthday festivities continued Norway's World Cup celebrations. The national team reached the quarter-finals at the 2026 tournament, their finest performance in history, defeating Côte d'Ivoire and Brazil in the knockout stages before falling to England. The achievement was particularly significant as it marked Norway's first World Cup appearance since 1998, ending a 28-year absence after they won all eight qualifying matches in UEFA Group I.
Lavish celebrations with friends
Joining the couple on the yacht were Norway teammate Sander Berge, a defensive midfielder who plays for Fulham and featured in the World Cup squad, and his girlfriend Julie Karlsen. Their son, born in December 2024, was also present for the celebrations.
Johansen's Instagram Stories revealed the lavish nature of the gathering, featuring jet ski rides along the coast and an extravagant spread including caviar, tomahawk steaks, assorted meats, cheeses and fresh fruit. One guest shared footage of a miniature golf setup installed on the yacht's deck.
A private relationship
The couple, who met while playing football at Bryne FK's youth academy in their hometown of Bryne, Norway, have maintained a largely private relationship despite Haaland's global fame. Johansen, a former footballer herself, typically supports Haaland at major matches but keeps their family life away from the public eye. They have been together since at least 2021.
Since joining Manchester City in 2022, Haaland has scored 162 goals in 198 appearances, establishing himself as one of world football's most prolific strikers. His reputation was further enhanced by his performances for Norway at the World Cup, where he helped end the nation's long wait to return to the tournament's biggest stage.
The birthday celebration in Italy offers a brief respite before Haaland returns to Manchester City for the new season, where he will aim to build on his status as the Premier League's leading marksman.
