Look, several of our coworkers are wearing the same hair tie today, saying they're copying Haaland. How did a football player suddenly become so popular?

It's not just because of the hair tie. He just led Norway into the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time and scored twice against Brazil. He's genuinely world-class, so people enjoy making memes about him instead of thinking he's just chasing attention.

I don't really watch football, but I've seen that video where he secretly drank the opposing goalkeeper's water. He looks like a monster on the field, but off the field he's a bit goofy. It's pretty entertaining.

That contrast is exactly what Chinese internet users like. They call him 'Habao,' turn his expressions into memes, and he doesn't get upset. He even asks fans to send him more memes.

No wonder he doesn't feel like one of those distant international superstars. I heard that after eliminating Brazil, he posted five updates in Chinese all at once.

That's right. He even pronounces 'Habao' in Chinese and made a tutorial video on tying his hair into a bun. He's not just translating a few sentences—he's genuinely joining in with Chinese internet culture.

From a marketing perspective, that's a smart move. His football skills earn respect, his personality makes him likable and easy to share, and he actively learns about the local culture. Of course brands want to work with him.

That's why people don't just like Haaland the football star—they also love the 'Habao' persona that internet users have created together. But don't go buying a 69-yuan hair tie just because everyone else is doing it.