Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has been named one of the winners of Instagram’s 2026 Rings Awards, earning one of the platform’s exclusive honours celebrating creativity, originality and cultural influence.
The Norwegian international is among the personalities selected for this year’s awards, which recognise individuals who have developed distinctive identities and built engaging communities through their Instagram content.
Haaland’s selection highlights his ability to combine his football career with humour, entertaining personal moments and an unconventional social media personality, making his account stand out beyond his performances on the pitch.
The 2026 edition marks the second year of Instagram’s Rings Awards, an initiative introduced by the platform to celebrate creators who demonstrate originality and creativity rather than simply rewarding accounts with large followings.
As part of the recognition, Haaland will receive a specially designed physical gold ring alongside exclusive digital features that distinguish winners from other Instagram users.
One of the most noticeable benefits is the distinctive golden ring displayed around a winner’s profile picture whenever they share an Instagram Story. The feature also appears across the platform, giving award recipients a unique visual identity.
Winners are also granted additional profile customisation privileges, including the ability to change their profile background colour and personalise their like button.
Haaland’s Instagram profile has already received the special golden treatment, attracting attention from football supporters and social media users following the announcement.
The physical award for this year’s winners was designed by fashion designer Emily Adams Bode Aujla, who created a distinctive piece inspired by the idea of creativity, individuality and making one’s own luck.
The selection process involved a panel of influential personalities from different creative industries, including fashion designer Donatella Versace, American rapper A$AP Rocky, filmmaker Chloé Zhao, musician FINNEAS and Olympic skiing champion Mikaela Shiffrin.
Instagram chief executive Adam Mosseri and head of fashion partnerships Eva Chen were also among the judges involved in the selection process.
Unlike traditional popularity-based awards, the Rings initiative places emphasis on originality, creative expression and the ability to establish a recognisable identity through digital content.
Haaland’s recognition demonstrates how his public personality extends beyond his reputation as one of football’s most prolific goalscorers, with his entertaining online presence helping him connect with audiences outside the traditional football community.
The Manchester City forward continues to attract global attention through his performances, personality and growing influence across social media.
