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Don’t let an exciting World Cup match get in the way of a friendship – especially when it’s between two of the best players on the planet.
Norway’s Erling Haaland and England’s Jude Bellingham have been among the stars of this summer’s tournament, leading their respective teams to successful runs into the knockout rounds. And while Bellingham got the best of Haaland in England’s 2-1 quarter-final win over Norway on Saturday, that didn’t stop the two from sharing a few friendly moments in Miami.
This is because both players’ respective rises to the top have mirrored each other. Bellingham (Real Madrid) and Haaland (Manchester City) were once former teammates at Borussia Dortmund and have also played against each other in the Champions League.
They are the definition of rivals on the field, but friends off it. Here’s a quick look at their friendship:
Dynamic duo at Borussia Dortmund
When Bellingham joined Dortmund from Birmingham City in 2020, he formed an instant partnership with Haaland (who had joined from FC Salzburg the previous year) to create one of European football’s best playing duos.
Dortmund challenged Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga title during their time together, but finished second in both seasons the two players were there. In a particularly heartbreaking fashion, the 2021-22 season ended with both teams level on points, but Bayern had a superior goal difference to deny Dortmund their first title since the 2011-12 campaign.
In total, the duo played 63 games together and won a piece of silverware, with Dortmund taking the 2021 German Cup (known as the DFB Pokal). Haaland won the league’s player of the season award for the 2021-22 campaign before leaving for Manchester City. Bellingham remained at Dortmund for one more season (winning player of the season) before moving to Real Madrid in the summer of 2023.
Great focus on Manchester City and Real Madrid
(Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
Haaland and Bellingham would share the pitch again after both made big moves to two of Europe’s most prominent sides. Their first meeting as opponents came in Real Madrid’s two-legged Champions League victory over Manchester City in the 2023–24 semi-final.
In fact, Bellingham’s Real Madrid have not lost to Haaland’s Manchester City in the three seasons the two players have met in the competition. Since winning the trophy with Man City in 2023, Haaland’s Champions League campaigns since then have all been completed thanks to Bellingham and the Spanish side.
Reunited at the World Cup
Bellingham and Haaland shared the pitch for their national teams for the first time in Saturday’s quarter-final match. It didn’t go to plan for Haaland and Norway as Bellingham stole the show with his two-goal performance to help England clinch a place in the semi-finals.
Despite the disappointment of Norway’s exit, Haaland spoke highly of his friend and former teammate, saying both club and country should be grateful to have a talent like him.
“Real Madrid and England are lucky to have Jude Bellingham,” Haaland said afterwards.
(Photo by Maddie Meyer – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
It was also the second game in a row in which Bellingham had two goals, having accomplished that feat in England’s 3-2 win over Mexico in the Round of 16.
“Sometimes they criticize Jude Bellingham for not scoring enough goals, but he doesn’t deserve that criticism,” Haaland said, defending the 23-year-old. “He’s a midfielder and yet he still scores, goes forward, dribbles. He’s world class.”
