Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra praised Norway striker Erling Haaland after his two late goals helped Norway defeat five-time champions Brazil 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16. Sharing his thoughts on social media, Mahindra compared Haaland's movement and finishing to a chess strategy, saying the forward appeared harmless before striking with precision when the opportunity arose.
Anand Mahindra compares Haaland to Magnus Carlsen
Reacting to Norway's victory, Mahindra said Haaland's football intelligence was comparable to the chess skills of fellow Norwegian Magnus Carlsen.
He wrote that Haaland "ambles on the field looking completely non-lethal," luring defenders into leaving him unmarked before "striking like a cobra" once he identifies a passing lane. Mahindra added that Carlsen might describe the approach as the "Cobra Gambit."
