Erling Haaland bears an uncanny resemblance to Dragon Ball Z’s villain Majin Buu. This is not new information. This comparison first became popular in 2021. This meme has resurfaced after the Norwegian striker became one of the breakout stars of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
But now, as his team prepares for a quarter-final showdown with England, Haaland himself has finally admitted the similarities.
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The latest chapter in this long-running meme began with an Instagram post by @hidden.ny that showed Haaland recreating Majin Buu’s signature hand gestures.
Fans immediately flooded comments referencing the iconic villain, continuing a joke that has been making the rounds on social media for years.
Haaland then joined them. In a comment on July 6, the Manchester City striker wrote: “That means I don’t agree.”
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That one sentence was all the internet needed.
Screenshots of Haaland’s reaction quickly went viral on X, Instagram and TikTok, with fans celebrating the striker’s tacit approval of one of the most persistent online memes.
Majin Buu is one of the most memorable antagonists in the legendary animated series Dragon Ball Z. Created by the wizard Bibbidi and later unleashed by Babidi, this pink magical being is known for his seemingly infinite power, ability to regenerate from almost any injury, and his habit of turning his enemies into candy before eating them.
Fans aren’t exactly saying that Haaland has villainous tendencies for this character. The jokes were always about the similarities. Not just his close-shaven blonde hair and wide features, but also his occasional facial expressions that give off that unmistakable Majin Buu energy.
This meme goes far beyond a side-by-side comparison. Some fans created art by having Majin Buu wear a Norwegian shirt and give him the pink villain Harland’s signature blonde hair.
The kitted DBZ mockup figures look like the perfect collection for both soccer fans and anime fans.
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As far as comparisons between athletes and anime go, this is one of many. However, they are not always recognized by the subjects. Now that Haaland has officially signed a contract, fans can consider this meme canon.