HOLLAND TO HAALAND

Tom Holland tried to shoot his shot with Erling Haaland - and got ghosted


Maybe it's in his unknown number folder still?


Erling Haaland Tom Holland© Getty
Jovita TrujilloSenior Writer
JULY 14, 2026 6:36 PM EDT

Tom Holland might be one of the most famous actors right now, but even Spider-Man gets left on read sometimes.  During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Holland shared a hilarious story about trying to connect with Norway's Erling Haaland after spotting him during the Monaco Grand Prix last month.

Erling did not pick up the phone for Tom© Eurasia Sport Images
Erling did not pick up the phone for Tom

After Fallon asked him if the story was true, referencing a tweet on X, formerly known as Twitter, that said, "He doesn’t watch movies, so he thought he was a random person."

Holland came clean, admitting he decided to "shoot his shot" after seeing the Norwegian striker in a hospitality suite across from his. "I was at Monaco. I was watching Lewis race, and I saw him," Holland recalled. "He was in a hospitality suite across from me, and I just thought I'd shoot my shot. Send him a text."

Tom called it "humbling"© NBC
Tom called it "humbling"

Unfortunately for the actor, the message never got a reply. "I'll tell you what - that is exactly the type of humbling experience that is important for actors," Holland quipped. 

"You're like, 'I'll text him. I'll take him to dinner," he said. "Not even a response. Not an excuse, not 'I'm busy tonight. I'm playing football.' Nada." The Odyssey star admitted, "I never imagined I'd talk about it on live television."

The actor quipped that he never thought he's share the story on live TV© NBC
The actor quipped that he never thought he's share the story on live TV

When Fallon asked whether he'd still be willing to have dinner with the football star, Holland quipped that the opportunity may have already passed. "I don't think he would have dinner with me after the other day," he said, referring to Norway's loss to England. 

Norway's World Cup hero once again showed his playful personality off the pitch, turning an ordinary airport arrival into a viral sensation.© Nicolò Campo
Norway's World Cup hero

As for the idea that Haaland doesn't watch movies, we know that's not entirely true. He definitely knows who Channing Tatum is. In a viral video, content creator Mancity gave him a small doll that looked like him, except that he had short hair. Haaland asked where the hair was, saying it "looks like Channing." 

View post on Instagram
 

When the creator asked who he was talking about, he quoted one of his most iconic lines from 21 Jump Street, "My name is Jeff." He also follows Tanning on Instagram. 

If you look at the rest of his following list, though, it is pretty sports-centered. Not a ton of Hollywood A-listers, no Kardashians or Jenners, but there are some big names in Latin music, like Shakira and J Blavin. 

Safe to say Holland isn't the only celebrity trying to get some 1 on 1 time with the player. He's become one of the most famous athletes after the World Cup.