Everyone’s seen the posts floating around on the internet saying Norwegian football star Erling Haaland ignored an Instagram message from Tom Holland because he doesn’t watch movies and didn’t know who the actor was.

We couldn’t believe it either when we first heard it. Haaland admitted to it in a conversation with Norwegian press, but we kind of thought it was a big joke, after all, who doesn’t know Spider-Man?

So, you can imagine how surprised we were to get a confirmation straight from the horse’s — or should we say Holland’s — mouth. The actor was on The Tonight Show when host Jimmy Fallon asked if the rumours were true.

The actor said they were and added, “I’ll tell you what, that is exactly the type of humbling experience that is important for actors.”

He said he had tried to say hi and ask Haaland out to dinner, but he got left on read. “Not an excuse. Not ‘I’m busy tonight’ [or] ‘I’m playing football.’ Nada. Nothing.”

The actor explained he was in Monaco, watching the grand prix when this happened and the footballer was in the hospitality suite across from his.

When Fallon asked him if the dinner was still on the table, Holland laughed and said Haaland might not be so keen on the invite after the actor’s home team, England, beat Haaland and his men to secure a spot in the World Cup semi-finals.

Both Fallon and Holland agreed the footballer was legendary on the field.

Later in the programme, the actor talked about his experience working with Christopher Nolan on his upcoming film The Odyssey . He said his agents had pitched him either a vampire movie or a science fiction film, neither of which turned out to be true when he flew to Los Angeles to meet Nolan; he accepted the role on the spot.

Holland revealed there was a major scheduling conflict between The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day — where he plays the titular character — as both projects were starting on the same day.

The actor said the team working on Spider-Man understood the gravity of the situation and moved the project.

The Odyssey hits theatres on Friday, Spider-Man: Brand New Day will begin its theatrical run on July 31.