IT will be the biggest scrap in New York since Anthony Joshua was crushed at Madison Square Garden.
Or the big brawl between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in the “Fight of the Century” way back in 1971. And the battle to see who can hit the winning shot will captivate soccer fans around the world.
Erling Haaland enters the Norway corner. He aims to defeat his hated rival from Brazil, who takes the form of Gabriel, dressed in yellow.
Let’s hope this time he doesn’t throw the kind of punch Andy Ruiz landed on Joshua that caused the biggest upset in boxing history. But the recent verbal exchanges between football heavyweights Haaland and Gabriel have done enough damage. It’s safe to say there is no love lost between these two.
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The feud began in the 2024/25 season, when Haaland scored a late equalizer between Manchester City and Arsenal, before hitting a three-the-ball into the back of Gabriel’s head.
“What happens on the football pitch stays there,” Haaland said. “That’s exactly right. It’s normal for there to be provocative behavior in football because this is a battle, a war. It’s part of the game.”
Erling Haaland throws the ball to Gabriel after Man City’s equalizer
But the Arsenal man was furious, saying Gabriel was “waiting” for Haaland in his return match at the Emirates, and celebrated madly to Haaland’s face as Arsenal beat Pep Guardiola’s side 5-1.
“I did it (celebration) because I threw the ball at my head to provoke him, just like he provoked me. The moment I scored, he was right next to me, so I immediately screamed in his ear.”
An earthquake eruption occurred.
Haaland continued to do the same last season, singing “Oh, sometimes it feels good” to the TV cameras after City’s 2-1 win over Arsenal at the Etihad, but during the match, when relations between the two sides reached a boiling point, Gabriel tried to headbutt the City striker, but referee Anthony Taylor booked them both instead, avoiding a red card, and Haaland believed his reaction saved his rivals.
They simply don’t like each other (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Gabriel tries to headbutt Haaland (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
After the match, he said: “I think it’s a red card.” “I think most people agree with me. If I go down like any other player, it’s a red card. That’s not what I do. My father taught me to stay on my feet.”
“That’s the reality. Should I have gotten off? Maybe. It would have been easier. But I didn’t.”
In the end, Gabriel waited until the campaign ended before responding.
And he hit out at Haaland by posting a video of himself holding up the Premier League trophy with the same Flo Rida song he was singing in the background a few months ago.
The fierce rivalry has moved from the pitch to social media. And now, the soccer gods have decided to reunite them. This time it will be a head-to-head battle in New York, with the winner qualifying for the World Cup quarterfinals and the loser going home.
Steven Spielberg himself might be proud of this script. A sports blockbuster that will be shown in the Big Apple rather than Hollywood.
Haaland enters the contest in great form. He has scored five goals in three games and is closing in on Lionel Messi in the race to win the Golden Boot.
Haaland has found the back of the net in the last 13 games, scoring 25 goals in total.
Haaland is in great shape ahead of his reunion with Gabriel (Image: Getty Images)
However, Gabriel remains the rock on which Brazil’s defense is built. He may have missed the penalty that cost Arsenal the Champions League title in Budapest last month, but there are no signs of a hangover in North America.
Whether Haaland likes it or not, Gabriel is one of the best centre-backs on the planet. But then again, Haaland is one of the best strikers. If not the best.
Fasten your seat belt and witness the collision between an irresistible force and an immovable object. Something would have to give.
And perhaps the first person to blink will hear about it from the person who blinked.
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