With 43 goals in just 44 international appearances, Erling Haaland has already become Norway’s all-time leading goalscorer, an astonishing achievement given his age and relatively short senior career to date. The Manchester City striker continues to redefine what is possible for a forward, combining physical power with remarkable finishing ability. His father, who represented Norway but never managed a goal at international level, could scarcely have imagined such prolific numbers from his son. Averaging 0.98 goals per game for his country, Haaland stands among the most efficient scorers in world football.
His reputation as one of the globe’s deadliest strikers has already been enhanced by multiple Golden Boot awards at club level, and his influence on the national team is no less significant. Norway, which has not reached a major international tournament since 2000, are now within touching distance of qualification for the 2026 World Cup in North America. Coincidentally, that was also the year of Haaland’s birth, giving this campaign added symbolism for Norwegian supporters.
Norway’s Perfect Start in Qualification
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Norway have begun their qualification campaign in perfect fashion, securing four wins from four matches. This flawless start has placed them in control of their group and has raised hopes across the nation that their long exile from football’s biggest stage is finally nearing an end. Haaland has naturally been central to this progress, scoring four goals in those matches to ensure Norway remain firmly on track.
His goalscoring instincts, combined with the quality of teammates who now also compete at the highest levels of European football, have transformed Norway into a far more balanced and dangerous outfit than in previous years. While qualification is not yet secured, the confidence within the squad and the momentum they have built suggest that their chances are stronger than at any time in the last two decades.
Chasing the Scoring Charts
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UEFA [reveals on its website](https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/0297-1d5d6735f8d7-9bf819c5c8e9-1000--european-qualifiers-top-scorer-andrej-kramaric-erling-haalan/) that Haaland currently sits second in the goalscoring charts for the qualifiers. With four goals, he is tied with Patrik Schick and just behind Croatia’s Andrej Kramarić, who has registered five. Given the number of fixtures still to come, there is every chance that Haaland could finish as the top scorer in the campaign, underlining his dominance at international level.
Yet, while individual accolades would add to his already impressive résumé, Haaland’s priority is clear. Securing Norway’s place at the World Cup will mean more than any personal award, as it would cement his role in leading his nation back to the highest level of world football. For a country that has waited more than two decades, such an achievement would be historic.