Erling Haaland deepfake video — Sep 2026

Manchester City forward Erling Haaland and YouTube personality MrBeast have collaborated to recreate a viral AI-generated video that originally gained massive traction during the 2026 World Cup. The duo posted a skit on Instagram on September 21, 2026, depicting the pair eating together before Haaland reacts in fear to his reflection in a mirror.

What happened

The skit serves as a direct reference to a widely circulated AI-edited clip that appeared during the 2026 World Cup. The original footage featured a man sitting in a diner who appeared to be Erling Haaland, startled by his own reflection. It was later revealed that the footage was an AI-manipulated version of a comedy clip originally performed by Chinese actor Jin Long. The creator of the viral deepfake used digital processing to swap Jin Long's face with Haaland's and modified the clothing to resemble a Norway national team kit. Following the recreation of this meme, Haaland and MrBeast—whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson—teased an upcoming appearance by the striker on the YouTuber's main channel. This collaboration highlights the growing intersection between professional sports and digital content creation, as both figures continue to expand their presence on social media platforms.