Erling Haaland, the forward for Premier League club Manchester City and the Norwegian national team, shared a photo on social media with the match ball used to complete his hat-trick during the team's third-round match against West Ham.
The game took place on August 31 at the London Stadium and ended with a 3-1 victory for Manchester City. The 24-year-old Haaland played the full 90 minutes, scoring goals in the 10th, 30th, and 83rd minutes.
In the photo posted by Haaland, other players from the Citizens also signed the ball. However, it was visible that one of his teammates wrote "f*** off" on it.
In the current Premier League season, Haaland has played three matches, scoring a total of seven goals. His contract with City extends until the end of June 2027, and according to Transfermarkt, his market value is estimated at 180 million euros.
After three matches of the 2024/2025 Premier League season, Pep Guardiola's team has accumulated nine points out of a possible nine, currently leading the English league table.