Tom Holland Gets Radio Silence from Erling Haaland After Dinner Invite

Even movie stars aren’t immune to the sting of being ghosted. Tom Holland discovered this firsthand when he attempted to befriend soccer superstar Erling Haaland last month, only to be met with complete silence.

During his appearance on“The Tonight Show”with Jimmy Fallon on Monday, the Spider-Man actor opened up about his failed attempt at friendship. Holland explained that the two happened to be in the same place at the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix, so he decided to take his shot and reach out via text. The plan seemed simple enough: slide into Haaland’s messages, maybe grab dinner. What could go wrong?

Everything, as it turned out. Holland didn’t just get a polite decline or even a vague excuse. He got nothing. No response, no apology, no“I’m busy tonight, I’m playing football.”Just radio silence. Holland took it in stride, though, describing the experience as exactly the kind of humbling moment actors need. There’s something refreshingly honest about a guy worth millions admitting that a soccer player couldn’t be bothered to text back.

What makes this story interesting isn’t the rejection itself—it’s Holland’s gracious response to it. When Fallon asked if he’d still want to hang out with Haaland, Holland didn’t get defensive or bitter. Instead, he acknowledged that the Norwegian sensation might be too wrapped up in his game, and he still called him an“absolute legend.”That’s the kind of maturity you don’t always see in celebrity feuds or perceived slights.

Haaland has certainly earned his status as a major cultural figure, especially after capturing hearts during the FIFA World Cup with his genuine enthusiasm for American experiences—including that memorable taxidermy raccoon he picked up in Texas. So maybe Holland’s persistence will eventually pay off, or maybe he’s just learned a valuable lesson about cold-calling athletes. Either way, it makes for a pretty funny late-night story.