The best pure goal scorer of the current generation is none other than Erling Haaland, who has consistently proven over the last five years what a world-class striker he is.
The Man City forward has set innumerable records in the Premier League and Champions League for his club, and now has brought Norway to their first FIFA World Cup since 1998.
With an emphatic 4-1 victory over Italy, behind two more Haaland goals, the Landslaget secured mathematical passage to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. What's more, Haaland equalled a FIFA international record that had stood unchallenged for over 50 years.
The Sporting News explains just what an incredible achievement Haaland has reached, and where he could go from here.
MORE: Which teams have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Most consecutive international games with a goal in football history
Erling Haaland has equalled the all-time record for consecutive international matches with a goal, as he hit for Norway's second against Italy on November 16, 2025.
ERLING HAALAND ON QUEUE 🔥
THAT’S 11 STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A GOAL FOR NORWAY, TYING THE RECORD IN MEN’S INTERNATIONAL SOCCER 😱 pic.twitter.com/qz3YhVqdZX
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 16, 2025
The strike marked 11 straight games with a goal, tying a record that had been held since the early 1960's, over 60 years prior. Haaland's streak dates all the way back to November 14, 2024 when he found a goal in a 4-1 win over Slovenia. Norway has won all 11 matches of the current streak, which is only stunted by a 1-1 friendly draw with New Zealand in a game Haaland did not participate.
The record had previously been held by Abdul Ghani Minhat of Malaysia, who scored in 11 straight games between May 28, 1961 and August 28, 1962. That record is confirmed by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).
The most consecutive international games with a goal for Cristiano Ronaldo is six, which he did twice in his career, most recently from June 7 to November 17, 2019.
Lionel Messi came closer, having found the back of the net in eight games from December 3, 2022 to September 8, 2023. That streak was on the tail end of another six-game run, with the two streaks separated by just one match where Messi was blanked, a 2-0 win over Poland at the 2022 World Cup. Had he found the net in that game, Messi would have scored in 15 straight games.
MORE: UEFA World Cup qualifying match schedule, results, and qualified teams
Erling Haaland consecutive international games with a goal
With his strike against Italy Erling Haaland has scored in 11 consecutive international games for Norway.
Date Competition Match Goals Assists Minutes
Nov. 14, 2024 UEFA Nations League Slovenia 1-4 Norway 1 1 87
Nov. 17, 2024 UEFA Nations League Norway 5-0 Kazakhstan 3 0 86
Mar. 22, 2025 UEFA World Cup qualifying Moldova 0-5 Norway 1 0 78
Mar. 25, 2025 UEFA World Cup qualifying Israel 2-4 Norway 1 0 90
Jun. 6, 2025 UEFA World Cup qualifying Norway 3-0 Italy 1 0 90
Jun. 9, 2025 UEFA World Cup qualifying Estonia 0-1 Norway 1 0 90
Sep. 4, 2025 International Friendly Norway 1-0 Finland 1 0 45
Sep. 9, 2025 UEFA World Cup qualifying Norway 11-1 Moldova 5 2 90
Oct. 11, 2025 UEFA World Cup qualifying Norway 5-0 Israel 3 0 90
Nov. 13, 2025 UEFA World Cup qualifying Norway 4-1 Estonia 2 0 90
Nov. 16, 2025 UEFA World Cup qualifying Italy 1-4 Norway 2 0 89
How many international goals has Erling Haaland scored?
Erling Haaland has a truly incredible goal scoring record with Norway, beyond his record-setting consecutive goal streak.
In 48 international appearances, Haaland has scored 55 goals, a remarkable rate of over a goal per game.
Still just 25 years old and now officially headed to his first-ever FIFA World Cup, it's conceivable that Haaland could potentially chase Cristiano Ronaldo's all-time goal scoring record in men's international football, which as of Norway's qualification stands at 143 goals in 226 appearances.