I tried eating Erling Haaland's World Cup "Viking diet" for a day
Can a normal human handle soccer star Erling Haaland's calorific bonanza? CBS News' Leigh Kiniry found out the hard way.
Updated on: July 10, 2026 / 11:15 AM EDT / CBS News
Erling Haaland has become one of the biggest stars in world soccer. The Norway star currently making his mark on the World Cup is known for an extraordinary goal-scoring ability, imposing 6-foot-5 frame, silly social media personality — and a seemingly endless appetite.
The Manchester City striker has been reported to consume around 6,000 calories every day during periods of intense training and competition. Much of that comes from simple, protein-rich meals sourced from some of his favorite farms, delis and butchers around Manchester.
I decided to find out what eating like a Viking is really like.
The order was straightforward but substantial: Four scrambled eggs, two thick slices of sourdough toast, a large bowl of Greek yogurt and berries and a black coffee with a splash of maple syrup.
It was plenty filling, but Haaland has also spoken about drinking raw milk , so I washed down the already substantial breakfast with a bottle of the rich, creamy beverage .