Football's best bromance: Why Bellingham and Haaland break the mould

Image source, Reuters Image caption, Manchester City's Erling Haaland hugs Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham in 2024 By Dan Sales Published 8 minutes ago It is the football bromance that has consumed the internet during the World Cup. And on Saturday night when England's Jude Bellingham and Norway's Erling Haaland face each other fans will be looking out for more than just goals. The pair's long-standing friendship, dating back to their Borussia Dortmund (BVB) days, has produced some memorable clips - most of which have been given a new lease of life during the tournament. Footage of their camaraderie over the years has become a welcome antidote to toxic masculinity and the darker corners of social media. How do England stop Norway - and Haaland? Published 7 hours ago Instagram in particular is awash with clips during matches of the two hugging or celebrating together. And their confidence in front of TV cameras and on their own social media has won them armies of new admirers. One particular clip in September 2021 after BVB's victory over Bestikas saw Haaland, 25, praise Bellingham as "amazing". On cue he strolled into shot and planted a jokey kiss on his cheek before vanishing. Another moment that has featured prominently all week sees Haaland rush in to seemingly protect Bellingham, 23, after a rival player pushed him on the pitch. "If you go back to the days of the 90s or 00s a lot of brands fell out with footballers because they were so badly behaved," PR expert Mark Borkowski told the BBC. "If you look at this generation of footballers they are a different breed and I think it is a lot to do with social media. "Jude Bellingham conducts himself like a man twice his age, the wisdom, the level-headed nature and the self-awareness. Image source, Reuters Image caption, Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham during the 2023 2023 Ballon d'Or awards "Haaland comes from a pretty wholesome family as well. I think with both of them it is the European touch (playing in Europe at club level) that has made them aware of different cultures and made them who they are. "The last World Cup was a massive success. This one has provided a feel-good factor." The friendship between the pair was noticed first at BVB, who even put out a video on YouTube on Valentine's Day of them reading cheesy pick-up lines to each other. They included Haaland reading, "I'd like to take you to the movies but they don't let you bring in your own snacks." "Is your name Google, because you have all I'm searching for," was one from Bellingham. Some fans of the duo have invoked the gay ice hockey romance Heated Rivalry, suggesting the players - though both reportedly in relationships with women - have the personal charm and sexual tension to fuel their own football version - enthusiastically dubbed "Cleated Rivalry". Social media expert Mark Navarra said the friendship showed a different, more affectionate side to footballers. "In some ways it is a bit of an ant