Erling Haaland, the unstoppable Norwegian goal machine who’s terrorizing Premier League defenses this season, has added a new title to his trophy cabinet: dad. For the second time in as many years, the Manchester City striker has welcomed a bouncing baby boy into the world, courtesy of his long-term girlfriend Isabel Haugseng Johansen. But in a heartwarming nod to a football legend he’s long admired in secret – the King of Football himself, Pelé – Haaland named his newborn Edson Arantes Haaland, after the Brazilian icon’s real moniker. The catch? This “shock” arrival came with an unexpected feature: a full head of silvery-white hair, turning the delivery room into a scene straight out of a fairy tale.

It was just after dawn on this crisp December morning when Isabel, 21, gave birth at a private Manchester clinic, surrounded by the couple’s inner circle and a discreet medical team sworn to secrecy. Haaland, 25, who had dashed from City training grounds the night before, was by her side every step of the way – holding her hand, cracking dad jokes about “scoring the easiest goal of his life,” and reportedly tearing up when the first cries echoed through the room. “It’s the best feeling in the world,” a beaming Haaland whispered to a midwife, according to sources close to the family. “Better than any Champions League final.”

The naming decision, however, has tongues wagging across the football world. Pelé – the three-time World Cup winner whose real name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento – has been Haaland’s “secret obsession,” insiders reveal. While the Viking striker publicly idolizes modern greats like Ronaldo and Messi, he’s harbored a quiet reverence for the Brazilian legend since his teens. “Erling devoured old VHS tapes of Pelé’s 1970 World Cup magic during lockdown,” one City teammate confided. “He’d watch alone in his hotel room, muttering about how O Rei made scoring look like poetry. Naming his son Edson? That’s Haaland’s way of paying eternal homage – a bridge between Norway’s fjords and Brazil’s beaches.”

But the real jaw-dropper hit when the nurses gently lifted little Edson for his first weigh-in. There, atop his tiny, perfectly formed head, was a shock of thick, silvery-white hair – not the downy fuzz typical of newborns, but a full, windswept mane that could rival a Tolkien elf or, more aptly, a mini Viking warrior ready for battle. “It was like he’d arrived with a crown of frost,” laughed Isabel’s best friend, who was among the first visitors. “Erling just stared, then burst out laughing: ‘He’s got more hair than me – and twice the style!’ We all lost it.”

Doctors were quick to reassure the new parents: it’s a rare but harmless genetic quirk, often called “poliosis” or “white forelock syndrome” in newborns, where melanin production lags behind, giving the illusion of premature graying. In Haaland’s case, it might trace back to his Norwegian roots – tales of “silver-haired sea raiders” abound in family lore, with Erling’s own grandfather sporting a mane of white by 30. “It’s like he’s inherited the spirit of the old Norse gods,” Haaland joked to his agent en route to the hospital. “Thor with a buzzcut? Nah, this kid’s going full Odin from day one.”

The couple’s joy is amplified by the fact that this is baby number two. Haaland and Isabel – childhood sweethearts from Bryne FK’s youth academy – welcomed their first son, Kai, in late 2024, a name whispered to honor Erling’s late uncle, a amateur footballer who taught him his first tricks. Kai, now a toddling terror at 11 months, was reportedly the inspiration for this second arrival. “After Kai, Erling kept saying he wanted a brother for him – someone to chase around the pitch,” a source revealed. “But secretly, he’d been mulling Pelé names for months. Isabel was all in; she’s the one who suggested ‘Arantes’ as a middle to keep the Brazilian flair alive.”

Isabel, a former women’s team striker herself who’s traded cleats for pram-pushing with effortless grace, emerged from the delivery glowing like she’d just netted a last-minute winner. The couple, who’ve kept their romance fiercely private amid Haaland’s meteoric rise, shared the news via a cryptic Instagram post from Haaland’s account: a black-and-white photo of two tiny feet – one pudgy and pink, the other dusted with that silvery fluff – cradled in his massive hands. Caption? A single goat emoji, followed by a crown and a football. Fans decoded it in seconds: “New king on the block!”

Social media exploded faster than Haaland on a counter-attack. #SilverHaaland trended worldwide within the hour, spawning memes of the baby as a mini Pep Guardiola and edits superimposing Edson’s locks onto Pelé’s iconic 1970 sideburns. Fellow City stars piled on: Kevin De Bruyne posted a crying-laughing emoji with “Future treble winner – with style,” while Phil Foden quipped, “Mate, your kid’s got better hair than the entire squad. Send tips.” Even rivals joined the fun – Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah shared a heart emoji, adding: “Congrats, brother. May he score as many as you… but for us!”

Back in Bryne, the news hit like a homecoming parade. Haaland’s parents, Alfie and Gry Marita – the former Man City midfielder and heptathlete who raised a football dynasty – were on the first flight out. “Alfie’s over the moon,” a family friend said. “He was texting Erling mid-labor: ‘Tell that boy to head the ball early!’ And Gry? She’s already knitting a tiny City kit with silver trim.” The grandparents arrived bearing gifts: a hand-carved wooden cradle from Norwegian artisans and a vintage Pelé jersey, yellowed with age, that Alfie unearthed from his attic.

For Haaland, fatherhood has been his secret superpower. After Kai’s arrival, he credited the tyke with fueling his blistering form – 18 goals in 11 games by October, including that audacious bicycle kick against Arsenal that had Etihad rocking. “Kids reset you,” he told Norwegian outlet NRK in a rare candid chat. “No egos, no tactics – just pure chaos and cuddles. Edson’s already got me planning family kickabouts. Imagine: two little Haalands vs. me. I’d lose every time.”

Isabel, ever the grounding force, has blossomed into motherhood with the same tenacity she showed on the pitch. The couple’s Cheshire mansion – a sprawling six-bedroom haven with a home gym, infinity pool, and dedicated “goal-scoring nursery” – is now a full-blown baby bunker. Sources say they’ve hired a Norwegian nanny fluent in lullabies and long passes, and Isabel’s already eyeing a return to part-time coaching at a local girls’ academy. “She’s fierce,” Haaland gushed in that same interview. “Pushed out two warriors while planning our next holiday. Ibiza again? With the boys in tow this time.”

As Manchester City chase a fourth straight Premier League title – Haaland’s 28 goals this campaign putting them three points clear – the striker’s off-field glow is palpable. Pep Guardiola, who accidentally spilled the beans on Kai’s birth last year, was first to congratulate the clan post-training. “Erling’s a machine on the pitch, but a softie off it,” the City boss beamed. “Two sons now? He’ll be unstoppable. Just don’t let them near my tactics board.”

In a sport rife with egos and excess, Haaland’s family-first ethos shines brightest. Naming Edson after Pelé isn’t just homage – it’s a vow: to blend the old kings’ wisdom with new blood’s fire. And that shock of silver hair? A badge of destiny, whispering that this little legend is born to conquer. From the delivery room to the dressing room, the Haaland dynasty marches on – one cheeky grin, one thunderous volley at a time.

As Edson Arantes Haaland lets out his first cry – a wail that sources swear sounded like a victory roar – the football world pauses, enchanted. Erling, cradling his silver-topped miracle, looks down and murmurs: “Welcome to the game, little king. We’ve been waiting for you.”