Erling Haaland AI meme fans finally have a real version after the Manchester City striker recreated the famous mirror-scare clip alongside YouTube star MrBeast.
MANCHESTER: The Erling Haaland AI meme that fooled and entertained millions during the summer has received an unexpected real-life remake, with the Manchester City striker joining MrBeast to recreate his viral “scared Haaland” moment.
The new video shows Haaland sitting at a table with YouTube creator MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, as the pair eat noodles. Haaland casually turns towards a mirror before suddenly recoiling in mock horror after apparently becoming frightened by his own reflection.
MrBeast shared the recreation on social media with a short joke describing it as the scariest meal of his life.
For anyone who followed football memes during the 2026 World Cup, the scene was immediately recognisable.
Where did the scared Haaland meme come from?
The original Erling Haaland AI meme showed what appeared to be the Norwegian striker eating at a restaurant before noticing himself in a mirror and reacting with an exaggerated fright.
There was just one problem: it was not Haaland.
The original footage featured Chinese comedy creator Jin Long performing a slapstick sketch. Someone subsequently used AI face-swapping technology to replace his face with Haaland’s and digitally altered his clothing to resemble Manchester City kit.
The resulting clip spread widely across TikTok, Instagram, X and other platforms during the summer. Its convincing appearance initially left some viewers wondering whether Haaland had genuinely been filmed startling himself.
Fact-checkers later traced the footage back to the original Chinese comedy video, confirming that the supposed Haaland scene had been digitally manipulated.
Haaland turns an AI fake into a real video
Rather than distancing himself from the joke, Haaland has now embraced it.
His recreation with MrBeast follows essentially the same sequence as the AI version, transforming a synthetic internet joke into a video featuring the footballer himself.
The Erling Haaland AI meme is also an unusual example of generative technology moving in reverse. Instead of AI imitating something that happened in real life, the person depicted in an AI fake has recreated the fictional event afterwards.
The collaboration also reflects Haaland’s growing presence beyond football. The Manchester City forward has increasingly produced social-media and YouTube content that gives supporters a look at his personality away from the pitch.
For MrBeast, meanwhile, the collaboration brings together two enormous audiences spanning football, YouTube and internet culture.
What began as a manipulated comedy clip has therefore completed an unusual journey: from a Chinese sketch, to an AI-generated Haaland meme, and finally to Haaland himself performing the joke.
Impact to expect
Viral. Haaland’s playful recreation could give the original meme another burst of attention while highlighting how AI-generated content is increasingly shaping mainstream internet culture.
