'Viking diet:' Norway soccer star Erling Haaland goes viral for his beef organs, raw milk diet

Erling Haaland, a striker for Norway in the 2026 World Cup, has been making headlines and getting clicks for his unorthodox diet including beef liver, heart and raw milk. 

The Norwegian footballer signed with the Premier League club Manchester City in 2022, and is currently representing his home country in the World Cup. 

Widely considered one of the best soccer players in the world, Haaland eats mainly raw, ancestral foods, which diverge from mainstream health recommendations. 

As demonstrated on his personal YouTube channel – to which 2.28 million subscribe – he largely rejects ultra-processed foods in favor of fatty cuts of red meat, eggs, fish, grass fed butter, unpasteurized, or raw, milk and honey.

Beef organs such as heart and liver – ancestral superfoods packed with essential protein, iron, vitamins and minerals—are also an integral part of the footballer’s diet.

Haaland also reports consuming select fruits and vegetables, grains, and coffee.

“You other people don’t eat this … but I care about taking care of my body,” the 25-year-old said in his documentary Haaland: The Big Decision. "I think eating quality food that's as local as possible is the most important thing.” 

Haaland’s health routine aligns with a yet growing trend of minimally-processed, natural diets, alongside figures like Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and author-psychologist Jordan Peterson, who each report consuming animal-based or carnivore diets.

The fastest player in Premier League history to 50, 75, and 100 goals, Haaland holds the record for most goals in a single Premier League season. 

He is also Norway's all-time top scorer and the fastest to 50 international goals this century, and became only the third player in 72 years to score in each of his first three World Cup matches.

Despite critics who cite high cholesterol warnings and potential bacteria found in raw milk, Haaland credits his athletic achievement, in part, to his diet. 

"I try to eat things that [are] real with less ingredients as possible,” he said, noting that “we’ve got so much processed things in this world right now.

“I think that’s a thing to eat real and quality,” adding that “the better food you put in your body, the better you’re going to get things out of the food, and performance as well."

Norway’s national team has also been receiving media attention after they shipped at least 1,000 pounds of fresh fish, cheese, and oranges to ensure players’ “nutrition and overall well-being during a demanding competition.”