The report traces the earliest known example to 9 January 2021, when Haaland was still with Borussia Dortmund. An illustration depicted him as Super Buu, initially drawing limited attention before spreading through football and anime communities.
The comparison gained a wider audience later in 2021, as Haaland’s goals and growing profile made him one of the most recognisable young players in Europe. His eventual move to Manchester City gave the meme an even larger stage.
The joke was never dependent on one particular performance. It followed Haaland whenever he scored, celebrated or produced the kind of dominant display that made him appear almost cartoonish on the pitch.
Haaland’s physical style makes the comparison easy to revive. His size, direct running and sharp reactions create a visual contrast with the polished image often associated with elite forwards. Add the familiar blond hair and expressive celebrations, and supporters have a ready-made reference.
The report says the current World Cup campaign has brought another wave of edited images, fan art and short videos. Haaland’s performances have supplied fresh material, while Norway’s reported progress to the quarter-finals has pushed the joke beyond its usual club-football audience.
That cycle is important. The meme is not separate from Haaland’s sporting identity; it grows whenever his performances become impossible to ignore.
Haaland is not the only major forward with a long-running fictional comparison. Kylian Mbappe is often linked with Donatello from *Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles*, another joke based mainly on facial resemblance.
Both memes show how online football culture turns recognisable features into shorthand. The next Norway match, and Haaland’s return to Manchester City action, should decide whether Majin Buu remains a World Cup curiosity or continues as one of football’s most durable player nicknames.