Watch: Haaland brought the 'Viking row' to Donnarumma's wedding
The World Cup may have ended last Sunday, but the iconic "Viking row" is still with us. Erling Haaland, who starred for Norway, arrived in Puglia to celebrate his Manchester City teammate Gianluigi Donnarumma's wedding, bringing the tournament's signature celebration with him. The couple tied the knot on Friday in a hilltop town, marking the culmination of a decade-long relationship.
The World Cup ended last Sunday, but it turns out the "Viking row" is still with us. Erling Haaland, who starred with the Norwegian national team until being stopped in the quarterfinals by England, arrived at an estate in Puglia, found a drum, gathered the wedding guests of his Manchester City teammate Gianluigi Donnarumma, and started rowing.
Donnarumma and Alessia Elefante were married on Friday at a church in a town located on a hilltop in Puglia. The entire town went out to the streets, as local residents stood along the road and a sea of white roses was visible everywhere. After all, the couple had been planning this wedding for almost an entire decade.
The reception was held afterwards at an estate in the Fasano area, one of the most impressive rural hospitality sites in Puglia. The place is full of olive trees, stones in warm shades, and long tables under the open sky. Italian comedians Pio and Amedeo were among the guests. And more importantly, Haaland was there too.
At first, the striker gathered the wedding guests and demonstrated the movements to them — that same synchronized seated rowing motion that became one of the most recognizable symbols of the Norwegian national team fans at the 2026 World Cup. Afterwards, he picked up a drum, began to beat the rhythm of the "Viking row," and led everyone in the same choreography that filled stadiums across North America throughout the tournament.
The video spread simultaneously on social media in Italy and Scandinavia and accumulated millions of views even before midnight. After all, the friendship between them is deep. Donnarumma has openly stated that Haaland "insisted very much" in an attempt to convince him to leave Paris Saint-Germain in favor of Manchester City.
The goalkeeper and his wife grew up near each other in the Castellammare di Stabia area and began dating around 2016. Elefante, an interior designer with 125,000 followers on Instagram, followed Donnarumma from Milan to Paris and from there to Manchester.
The two have a son named Leo, who was born in September 2024. She arrived at the church in a tulle dress decorated with lace, with a flowing veil and a bouquet of white roses in her hand. It was a picture of a couple who waited patiently for their moment and made sure to make the most of it.
