Haaland leads ‘viking row’ as he takes centre stage at Donnarumma’s lavish wedding

Erling Haaland became the unexpected star of Gianluigi Donnarumma’s wedding celebrations after leading guests in a full “viking row” routine that quickly spread across social media.

The Manchester City striker, attending the ceremony of his club team-mate Donnarumma in Italy, grabbed a drum during the reception and marshalled dozens of guests through the choreographed celebration associated with Norway’s national team.

Footage of the moment shows Haaland on stage beating the drum to set the rhythm while guests sit on the floor in tightly packed rows, mimicking rowing strokes in time with the booming beat and chanting “Row” in unison.

The clip drew widespread reaction online, with one fan writing: “This man is hated by no one,” while another commented: “I can’t stop laughing… it looks like it was a fun wedding.” A third added: “Haaland is genuinely incredible,” according to The Sun.

Norway’s ‘viking row’ brought to the wedding dancefloor

The “viking row” celebration has its roots in the Norway national team, who popularised it during the 2026 World Cup.

The routine is structured around a leader striking a drum twice to fix the tempo, before players or participants sit in straight lines on the ground, rowing in synch while chanting “Row” with each motion.

Norway’s players, led by captain Martin Ødegaard, used the celebration on the pitch after their World Cup victory over Brazil, helping it gain international attention. Haaland has now transported the same ritual from the football field to a wedding dancefloor.

At Donnarumma’s reception, the 26-year-old forward – who celebrated his birthday only days before the wedding – was seen laughing and joking with guests as he conducted the celebration. At one stage he paused to demonstrate the correct rowing motion to a guest who appeared unsure of the choreography.

Star-studded guest list for Italian celebration

Donnarumma married long-time partner Alessia Elefante in an opulent ceremony in Italy, attended by a host of football names.

Among the guests were Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, Inter and Italy midfielder Nicolo Barella and AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini, who all joined the festivities as the Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper tied the knot.

Haaland arrived at the event with his partner Isabel Haugseng Johansen, while Donnarumma celebrated his marriage to his childhood sweetheart, with whom he welcomed their first child in 2024.

The combination of high-profile guests and Haaland’s impromptu “viking row” masterclass ensured the wedding was not only a major occasion off the pitch, but also an online talking point as the video circulated widely across social media platforms.