Even Spider-Man can't always get what he wants — especially when it comes to soccer royalty. Tom Holland, the star of the Spider-Man franchise, revealed on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon that his attempt to connect with Norwegian striker Erling Haaland ended in a very public rejection.
The actor shared that the awkward encounter began at the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix a few weeks ago, where he spotted Haaland across the hospitality suite. Feeling bold, Holland decided to shoot his shot via text.
“I was watching Lewis (Hamilton) race, and I saw him,” Holland explained. “He was (in) like a hospitality suite across from me, and I just thought I’d shoot my shot. Send him a text.”
But the soccer star wasn't interested in hanging out with the Hollywood A-lister. Haaland never replied, leaving Holland with a harsh reality check. “That is exactly the type of humbling experience that is important for actors,” Holland said. “I’ll text him, I’ll take him to dinner… not even a response. Not an excuse, not, ‘I’m busy tonight, I’m playing football.’ Nada.”
To make matters worse for Holland, his favorite team, England, recently knocked Norway out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory on July 11. The match was marred by controversy when Norway's goalkeeper launched a goal kick that appeared to hit a SkyCam cable, leading to protests from Norwegian players and coach Ståle Solbakken. Despite FIFA's Connected Ball Technology showing no evidence of contact, the goal stood, and Jude Bellingham sealed the win in the 93rd minute of extra time.
This incident adds another layer to the growing buzz around the World Cup, including Melania Trump's disapproval of a viral World Cup dance that stole the show. Meanwhile, Haaland remains focused on his game, even if it means ignoring Hollywood's friendly gestures.
Holland's experience is a reminder that even A-list celebrities can get snubbed by the world's biggest sports stars. As the World Cup continues to captivate audiences, Haaland's star power only grows — and he's apparently too busy scoring goals to return texts.
