For years, associates of Russian model Anastasia Kostromina noted her physical similarity to Norwegian athlete Erling Haaland. After the striker gained massive prominence during the World Cup, the 24-year-old chose to share that resemblance online.
She published an Instagram video earlier this month showcasing her appearance and mimicking the footballer’s signature expressions. The clip unexpectedly surged in popularity, amassing 6.4 million likes. Kostromina, based in Moscow, noted that the rapid viral success felt surreal and entirely unanticipated.
While Kostromina initially struggled to reconcile being compared to a male professional athlete, she eventually adopted a humorous outlook. She actively supported Norway throughout the tournament and expressed disappointment when they were defeated by England in the quarter-finals. Represented by Motion Model Management, the model maintains a lighthearted hope that the Manchester City star will eventually view her content.