Gabriel Magalhães and Erling Haaland have been at each other’s throats for over two years now. And when Brazil meets Norway in the World Cup tonight, it won’t be the first time these two share a pitch with bad blood between them. It’s club drama showing up on the international stage, and honestly, it’s been building for a while.
The whole thing started back in 2024, during a 0-0 draw between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Etihad. Gabriel spent the entire game doing what center backs do — shoving, leaning, getting under Haaland’s skin. And Haaland, to his credit, didn’t back down. After the final whistle, they started shoving each other. Pep Guardiola had to step in and separate them. That was the spark.
Few months later, the rivalry really blew up. Arsenal was up 2-1 late in the game, heading for a big win at City. Then City scored a last-minute equalizer. Haaland grabbed the ball and launched it at the back of Gabriel’s head. That set off a chain reaction. After the restart, Haaland steamrolled through Thomas Partey while trying to close down a pass. Then came the moment Arsenal fans still hate: Haaland was caught on camera telling Mikel Arteta to “stay humble, eh?” That line became a meme and a weapon, and it definitely got under Arsenal’s skin.
Gabriel fires back, literally
Later that same season, Gabriel got his revenge. Arsenal scored the opener, and Gabriel celebrated by screaming right in Haaland’s face. Haaland scored the equalizer with a header, but he didn’t return the favor. Gabriel later said, “He was dominating, I was always celebrating in his face. Five minutes in, one-nil. When we scored, he was right next to me, and I started yelling in his ear. He scored, the son of a bitch, with a header, 1-1. Then we turned it around, 3-1, 4-1, 5-1.”
That Arsenal team had a bit of edge to it. Myles Lewis-Skelly — who’d had his own run-in with Haaland — mocked Haaland’s celebration during that same game. The rivalry was now running through the whole squad.
The headbutt that wasn’t a red card
Their most recent clash came last season, with City chasing Arsenal in the title race. During a 2-1 City win at the Etihad, Gabriel headbutted Haaland. Haaland didn’t go down. And because he stayed on his feet, VAR didn’t give Gabriel a red card. After the game, Haaland was honest about it: “I think it’s a red card. If I go down like any other guy, it’s a red card. It’s not something I would do. My father taught me to stay on your feet. Should I have gone down? Maybe. Then it would’ve been easier. But I didn’t.”
That non-call mattered. Gabriel kept playing, Arsenal kept their best defender on the field, and the title race stayed tight. If he’d gone down, Gabriel would’ve been suspended for three games. That could’ve changed everything.
Now they meet again, this time for country. Brazil-Norway at the World Cup. The stakes are different but the history is still there. Don’t expect handshakes at the final whistle.
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