Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland has revealed his struggles with grief and a crippling fear of death following the loss of his grandparents, agent Mino Raiola, and close family friend Ivar Eggja. The Norwegian striker spoke candidly about the emotional challenges he faces off the pitch while continuing to dominate for City.
Erling Haaland may be one of football’s most dominant forces on the pitch, but away from the spotlight, the Manchester City striker has been navigating deeply personal struggles. In a candid interview with Aftonbladet, the 25-year-old opened up about the grief of losing loved ones and the haunting thoughts he wrestles with when the lights go out.
“It’s a bit scary when you lie alone in bed before you go to sleep and think: What happens the day I die? Are you going to heaven? Are you going to hell? Where are you going?” Haaland admitted.
The Norwegian forward has endured a difficult few years, saying goodbye to his grandparents, his influential agent Mino Raiola, and most recently, a close family friend, Ivar Eggja, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 59. Eggja, fondly referred to as “uncle” by Haaland, was the best man at Alf-Inge Haaland’s wedding and remained a key figure in the family’s life.
Speaking emotionally about Eggja’s passing, Haaland said:
“How am I going to process it? It’s difficult. It’s sad that he’s no longer here. He would have been here today and teased me. We teased him all the time. I will miss him for the rest of my life. I spoke to him just before he died. He said: Go out and smash everything on the pitch. He wanted me to live my best life, even without him.”
Despite the grief, Haaland has continued to deliver world-class performances for Manchester City. He has already scored nine goals in his first seven appearances of the 2025–26 season, showing his remarkable ability to separate personal pain from professional performance.
The striker’s words serve as a rare glimpse into the vulnerability of one of football’s most feared players. While he continues to terrorize defenders across Europe, Haaland is also confronting the universal human questions of loss, mortality, and purpose.
Next up, City’s talisman will look to channel that energy into another big performance when Pep Guardiola’s side face AS Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday.
