Tom Holland Reveals Erling Haaland Left His DM Unanswered: “It Was a Humbling Experience”

One of Hollywood’s biggest stars today, Tom Holland admitted that he has experienced being “left on read” just like anyone else. The actor recently shared the amusing story of how Norwegian football star Erling Haaland never responded to a direct message inviting him to hang out, saying the experience was surprisingly “humbling.”

Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Holland was asked about a viral post on X claiming that he had sent Haaland a direct message but never received a reply. The post also suggested that Haaland didn’t know who Holland was because he rarely watches movies.

Jimmy Fallon asked, “Erling Haaland had no idea who Tom Holland was when he DM’d him and asked to hang out. He doesn’t watch movies, so he thought he was a random person. Now, tell us the truth: did you DM Erling Haaland?”

Without hesitation, Holland laughed and confirmed the story was completely true.

“Yes. Yes, and I tell you what, that is exactly the type of humbling experience that is important for actors. You’ll be like, ‘I’ll text him, I’ll take him to dinner,’ not even a response, not an excuse, not ‘I’m busy tonight, I’m playing football,’ nada.”

According to Holland, the idea came after he spotted the Manchester City striker at the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix earlier in June. As both a passionate football fan and Formula 1 enthusiast, he thought it would be the perfect opportunity to introduce himself.

“I was watching Lewis Hamilton race, and I saw him. He was in a hospitality suite across from me, and I just thought I’d shoot my shot. Send him a text.”

Looking back on the moment, Holland joked, “I never imagined I would talk about it on live television, but here we are.”

Fallon then asked whether Holland would still like to invite Haaland out for dinner. The actor laughed and replied, “I don’t think he would have dinner with me after the other day.”

The comment was interpreted as a playful reference to England’s 2-1 victory over Norway at the FIFA World Cup, a result that eliminated Norway from the tournament.

Fallon suggested Haaland was probably still disappointed by the loss, prompting Holland to joke, “A little bit, bless him.”

Despite making himself the punchline of the story, Holland made it clear that he has nothing but admiration for Haaland. He praised the Norwegian striker’s performances throughout the World Cup, calling him “an absolute legend” and describing him as an “incredible” footballer.

Following Norway’s elimination, Haaland said he would continue supporting England for the remainder of the tournament.

“I’ve been supporting; I think I got an England jersey before I got a Norway jersey when I was young, so of course I want England to do well because it’s a nice country and it’s a nice T-shirt.”

During the interview, Holland also expressed optimism about England’s World Cup campaign, saying reaching the semifinals already felt special.

“It feels like something is in the air right now. Sometimes in life, I just get a feeling, and I have that feeling right now, Jimmy.”

Tom Holland remains one of Hollywood’s most influential young actors. He rose to global fame as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Following the success of Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Spider-Man: No Way Home, he became one of the highest-grossing young actors in the world.

Beyond the Marvel franchise, Holland has starred in major films including The Impossible, Uncharted, Cherry, and The Devil All the Time. He has earned praise for balancing blockbuster entertainment with emotionally driven dramatic roles.

Off-screen, Holland and Zendaya are one of Hollywood’s most beloved couples. After years of working together on the Spider-Man films, the pair publicly confirmed their relationship and have continued to attract widespread attention from fans. Despite his global fame, Holland has repeatedly said that he prefers to keep his private life away from excessive media scrutiny.

Meanwhile, Erling Haaland is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in world football. Since joining Manchester City, he has broken numerous Premier League scoring records and played a pivotal role in helping the club win multiple major trophies. His remarkable consistency and extraordinary goal-scoring ability have made him a leading contender for football’s biggest individual honors for years to come.

Although the story of Haaland ignoring his message quickly spread across social media, Holland chose to tell it with humor and self-deprecation. For the actor, having one of the world’s most famous footballers ignore his message was not embarrassing. Instead, it served as a reminder that fame does not guarantee every door will automatically open. His relaxed attitude and good-natured perspective have only further endeared him to fans, while he continues to show respect and admiration for Haaland despite the now-famous unanswered DM.