WATCH: Erling Haaland brings viral ‘Viking row’ to Gianluigi Donnarumma’s wedding as World Cup madness lives on

L-R: Gianluigi Donnarumma and his wife Alessia Elefante; Erling Haaland and his partner Isabel Haugseng Johansen. (Photo by Reuters) NEW DELHI: Manchester City forward Erling Haaland stole the spotlight at team-mate Gianluigi Donnarumma’s wedding celebrations in Italy with top guests in the now-famous Vikings line-up, a tradition that has become synonymous with Norway’s memorable World Cup campaign.A video released by Sky Italia on Saturday showed Haaland beating a drum as he encouraged the guests to perform a rhythmic rowing motion and sing “Ro”, recreating the celebration that went viral throughout the tournament.The clip quickly spread across social media, delighting fans who embraced the Vikings’ row during Norway’s impressive run to the World Cup quarter-finals.

The World Cup tradition returns at a star-studded wedding

The Order of the Vikings first gained global attention during the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, where Norwegian supporters performed a coordinated chant and rowing in the stands.

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The Norwegian team, led by star striker Haaland, adopted the ritual soon after the victories and turned it into one of the defining fan celebrations of the tournament.WATCH:Although Norway’s campaign ended in the quarter-finals, the chant remained one of the lasting images of the competition. Haaland’s decision to revive it at Donnarumma’s wedding has ensured the celebration will continue to resonate with football fans long after the World Cup is over.The Manchester City striker appeared to be enjoying the moment, drumming the beat as the other guests joined in enthusiastically.

Football stars gather for Donnarumma’s big day

Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma married his long-term partner Alessia Elefante in a lavish ceremony held in Fasano, southern Italy.The couple, who met in 2016 in their hometown of Castellammare di Stabia, near Naples, share a son, Leo, born in 2024. They announced their engagement earlier this year with an Instagram post that read: “Signed for a long-term contract.”Several high-profile football figures attended the celebrations, including Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, Haaland, Sandro Tonali, Paolo Maldini and Nicolò Barella.Haaland attended the ceremony alongside his girlfriend Isabel Haugseng Johansen after spending part of his post-World Cup break in Italy.The Norwegian forward remains one of the tournament’s biggest stars, helping Norway reach the last eight and attracting millions of new fans on social media during the competition.Donnarumma, meanwhile, celebrated his first season at Manchester City after joining from Paris Saint-Germain last summer. The Italian goalkeeper enjoyed an impressive debut campaign, helping City lift both the FA Cup and League Cup.