Russian model Anastasia Kostromina never expected a simple social media post comparing her appearance to football superstar Erling Haaland to become an internet phenomenon.
After years of friends and relatives telling her she shared a resemblance with the Norwegian striker, Kostromina finally decided to showcase the comparison online during the 2026 World Cup.
The 24-year-old uploaded an Instagram video earlier this month highlighting similarities between herself and Haaland, not only in facial features but also by copying some of the Manchester City forward’s famous expressions and gestures.
The clip quickly exploded across social media, collecting more than 6.4 million likes and turning Kostromina into an unexpected online celebrity.
Viral Success Leaves Model Shocked
Speaking to AFP in Moscow, Kostromina admitted she was stunned by the reaction to the video.
She said the sudden attention felt unreal at first because she never imagined the post would reach such a massive audience.
Despite the surprise, the model said she has enjoyed the experience and is happy that people connected with the humorous comparison.
Haaland Becomes World Cup’s Biggest Social Media Star
The timing of Kostromina’s viral moment coincided with Haaland’s rise as one of the biggest stars of the World Cup.
The 25-year-old striker became one of the tournament’s most talked-about players, building a huge online following that has reached 68.8 million social media followers.
Haaland played a key role in Norway’s impressive campaign, scoring seven goals during the competition, including two goals against Brazil in the last-16 stage.
Norway eventually reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by England in a dramatic 2-1 defeat.
Model Initially Struggled With Male Footballer Comparison
Although many people around her had pointed out the resemblance for years, Kostromina admitted she was initially confused by the comparison.
She explained that she struggled to understand how she could look similar to a male football player but eventually learned to embrace the joke.
Over time, she began viewing the comparisons with humour and now enjoys the unusual connection that has brought her worldwide attention.
Haaland’s World Cup Journey Captures Her Support
Despite being Russian, Kostromina found herself supporting Norway throughout the tournament because of her connection to Haaland.
She revealed that she followed the team closely and was emotionally invested during their final match, describing herself as nervous and fully focused while watching their quarter-final defeat.
Russia was not involved in the World Cup after being largely excluded from international sporting competitions following the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Kostromina Hopes Haaland Sees the Viral Tribute
Represented by Moscow-based Motion Model Management, Kostromina now hopes the football star himself eventually discovers the viral video.
She said she would love for Haaland to watch the clip and perhaps find it amusing, adding that the entire experience has been a fun and unexpected journey.
What started as a playful response to years of comparisons has now transformed Kostromina into one of the most surprising social media personalities connected to the World Cup.
