Erling Haaland’s dominant performance in the 2026 World Cup has forced football fans to revisit a 2019 social media post where an unknown supporter correctly urged Real Betis to sign the then-teenager for a fraction of his current value, according to coverage by El Desmarque and Lucha Libre Online.
The 2019 Social Media Recommendation
On May 30, 2019, a Real Betis supporter published a message on Twitter directed at the Spanish club’s official account, according to El Desmarque. The user wrote that if they ran Real Betis, they would sign the young forward, noting that his market value sat at approximately 5 million euros and would soon rise.
At the time of the post, Haaland was 18 years old, playing for Red Bull Salzburg, and representing Norway’s under-20 national team, as reported by El Desmarque. The club ultimately did not pursue the recommendation, leaving supporters to wonder what might have happened had the team secured his transfer before his move to Borussia Dortmund.
Value Growth and Current Status
Years after the viral tweet, Haaland’s career trajectory has pushed his market value to historic levels. According to Transfermarkt data cited by El Desmarque, his valuation reached 200 million euros, while Lucha Libre Online notes his worth at approximately 220 million euros.
The original social media post has drawn significant renewed attention during the tournament, accumulating more than 4,000 retuits, nearly 40,000 likes, and roughly 3,000 saves on the platform, per El Desmarque’s review of the viral thread. The renewed interest highlights how early some observers spotted the striker’s potential before he became a global star.
World Cup 2026 Impact
Haaland entered the decisive stages of the 2026 World Cup as one of the tournament’s leading goalscorers with 7 goals, according to El Desmarque. His tournament campaign included a crucial brace against Brazil that propelled Norway to a historic victory over the Canarinha in the round of 16.
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