elmatecoErling Haaland drinks mate. On October 18, 2026, the Manchester City and Norway striker posted a selfie holding a gourd of yerba mate and publicly thanked three Argentine footballers for introducing him to what he called a “lovely drink.” The post spread quickly, and Argentine fans filled it with reactions.
What Haaland Posted
The selfie shows Haaland relaxed at home with a freshly prepared mate in hand, a day after scoring in Manchester City’s win. His caption, written partly in Spanish and partly in English and finished with a mate emoji, thanked Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández and Gerónimo Rulli for introducing him to the drink. Both Álvarez and Fernández reacted to the post.
Who Introduced Haaland to Mate?
According to Argentine media, Haaland’s habit began in the Manchester City locker room, where his then-teammate Julián Álvarez shared mate with him. Álvarez, a World Cup winner with Argentina, is one of many Argentine players who bring their gourd and thermos wherever they play. Fernández (now at Chelsea) and Rulli (goalkeeper at Olympique de Marseille) are two more national team players who regularly appear in mate photos.
The Norwegian Embassy in Argentina Joins In
The reaction wasn’t limited to football fans. The official account of Norway’s embassy in Argentina replied on X with a friendly “welcome to mate,” a small diplomatic sign of how far the tradition has traveled.
Another Footballer Joins the Mate Club
Haaland follows a growing list of footballers outside South America who adopted mate through teammates, not through culture or family. At Tottenham, Argentine players and coach Mauricio Pochettino introduced mate to English teammates, a story we told in how England’s World Cup squad discovered yerba mate. French star Antoine Griezmann picked up the habit from a Uruguayan teammate. You can see more of them in our full list of celebrities who drink yerba mate.
It also fits the bigger picture from the 2026 World Cup, when Argentine fans shared mate across the United States. The same pattern keeps repeating: someone shares a gourd, and it spreads from there.
New to Mate? Start Here
Yerba mate is a traditional South American drink, made by steeping the dried leaves of the yerba mate plant in hot water and sipping it through a metal straw called a bombilla. It contains caffeine, but many people find the lift steadier than coffee. If Haaland’s post made you curious, here’s where to begin:
- Learn how to make yerba mate step by step.
- Read our guide to mate etiquette, so you know the unwritten rules when someone passes you a gourd.
- Pick your first mate gourd and bombilla, or check our beginner’s buying guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Erling Haaland drink mate?
Yes. He posted a selfie drinking mate on October 18, 2026, and thanked three Argentine players for introducing him to it.
Who introduced Haaland to mate?
He credited Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández and Gerónimo Rulli. Reports say the habit began with Álvarez in the Manchester City locker room.
What is mate?
Mate is a traditional drink from Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and southern Brazil, made from yerba mate leaves and usually shared in a group. Learn more in our guide to making yerba mate.
Which other footballers drink mate?
Many, from Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez to Antoine Griezmann and England’s Eric Dier. See our full list.
Sources: Cadena 3, Canal 26, Primicias, Diario de Cuyo, Minuto Uno, Examedia, OneFootball.
