Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior has extended a playful holiday invitation to Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, sharing photos of himself training alongside American actor Terry Crews in Rio de Janeiro.
Following his participation with Brazil in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Vinicius is spending his off-season in his hometown before returning to Spain for Real Madrid's pre-season. The Brazilian star uploaded a series of images on Instagram showing himself and Crews lifting dumbbells, with the actor also holding a Brazil national team shirt and meeting a member of the winger's family.
“We are waiting for you, @erling 🤔,” Vinicius wrote in the caption of his post.
The interaction points back to a viral meme that circulated during the 2026 World Cup. Ahead of a round of 16 fixture between Brazil and Norway, fans shared an edited clip of a famous scene from the 2004 comedy film White Chicks, in which Crews’ character sings to Marlon Wayans. In the parody, Vinicius' face was superimposed over Crews, while Haaland's face replaced Wayans. The edit amused Haaland, who commented that the two football stars should recreate the scene, to which Vinicius replied with laughter.
The two players developed a close friendship during the tournament. After Norway knocked Brazil out of the World Cup, Vinicius interrupted Haaland's post-match interview to share a handshake and a hug. More recently, when Haaland celebrated his 26th birthday on Tuesday, July 21, Vinicius commented on the Manchester City forward's post, writing, “Happy birthday bro see u soon,” which fueled fan speculation about a potential future link-up.
Both players enjoyed highly productive individual campaigns at the 2026 World Cup. Vinicius served as Brazil's main attacking threat during the group stage, scoring four goals and registering one assist in five matches as the Seleção topped their group. Meanwhile, Haaland led Norway to their historic first-ever quarter-final appearance, scoring seven goals in five games before being eliminated by England in extra time. Haaland's outstanding performance earned him a spot in the tournament's official Best XI.
