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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 successfully advance to the knockout rounds. And although Bellingham outplayed Haaland in England’s 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Norway on Saturday, that didn’t stop the two from sharing a couple of 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 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’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 arrived from 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 the two players were there. In particularly heartbreaking fashion, the 2021-22 season ended with both teams tied 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 matches together and won a silver medal: Dortmund took home 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 (winning the player of the season award) before making his big move 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 field again after both made big moves to two of Europe’s most prominent teams. Their first meeting as opponents came in Real Madrid’s two-legged Champions League victory over Manchester City in the 2023-24 semi-finals.
In fact, Bellingham’s Real Madrid have not lost to Haaland’s Manchester City in the three seasons in which both players have faced each other in the competition. Since winning the trophy with Manchester City in 2023, all of Haaland’s Champions League campaigns since have ended thanks to Bellingham and the Spanish team.
Gathered at the World Cup
Bellingham and Haaland shared the field with their national teams for the first time in Saturday’s quarterfinal match. It didn’t go to plan for Haaland and Norway as Bellingham stole the show with his two-goal performance to help England book a place in the semi-finals.
Despite the disappointment over Norway’s exit, Haaland praised his friend and former teammate and said 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 consecutive match in which Bellingham scored twice after achieving that feat in England’s 3–2 victory over Mexico in the round of 16.
“Jude Bellingham is sometimes criticized for not scoring enough goals, but he doesn’t deserve that criticism,” Haaland said, defending the 23-year-old. “He’s a midfielder and he still scores, advances and dribbles. He’s world class.”
