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Don’t let an exciting World Cup match get in the way of a friendship, especially when it involves two of the best players on the planet.
Norway’s Erling Haaland and England’s Jude Bellingham were among the stars of this summer’s tournament, leading their respective teams to successful runs to the round of 16. And even though Bellingham got the better of Haaland in England’s 2-1 quarterfinal win over Norway on Saturday, that didn’t stop the two from sharing some friendly moments in Miami.
Indeed, the respective rises of the two players were reflected. Bellingham (Real Madrid) and Haaland (Manchester City) were once former teammates at Borussia Dortmund and also faced each other in the Champions League.
They are the definition of rivals on the field but friends off it. Here is a brief overview of 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 FC Salzburg the previous year) to create one of the best playmaking duos in European football.
Dortmund challenged Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga title during their time together, but finished in second place in both seasons both players were there. In particularly heartbreaking fashion, the 2021-22 season ended with both teams tied on points, but Bayern having a superior goal difference to deny Dortmund their first title since the 2011-12 campaign.
In total, the duo played 63 matches together and won one piece of silverware, with Dortmund winning 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 stayed at Dortmund for one more season (best player of the season) before making his big transfer to Real Madrid in the summer of 2023.
Big spotlight on Manchester City and Real Madrid
(Photo by Image Photo/Getty Images)
Haaland and Bellingham would share the pitch again after both making big moves towards two of Europe’s hottest teams. Their first meeting as opponents came in Real Madrid’s Champions League home-and-away 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 in which the two players have faced each other in the competition. Since winning the trophy with Man City in 2023, Haaland’s Champions League campaigns have all ended thanks to Bellingham and the Spanish side.
Reunited at the World Cup
Bellingham and Haaland shared the pitch with their national teams for the first time in Saturday’s quarterfinal match. It didn’t go as planned for Haaland and Norway as Bellingham stole the show with her two-goal performance to help England clinch a place in the semi-finals.
Despite disappointment over Norway’s departure, Haaland praised his friend and former teammate, saying the 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 a second consecutive match with Bellingham scoring two goals after achieving the feat in England’s 3–2 victory over Mexico in the round of 16.
“Sometimes they criticize Jude Bellingham for not scoring enough goals, but he doesn’t deserve this criticism,” Haaland said, defending the 23-year-old. “He’s a midfielder, and yet he scores, advances, dribbles. He’s world class.”
