🔗 Share this article

Extraordinary goalgetter Erling Haaland will get a crack at his premier global event next summer, following his guidance Norway to the World Cup.

And the 25-year-old Manchester City striker did it in sensational style, scoring 16 goals in eight World Cup preliminary games - netting at least once in each of those matches.

This positions him as the leading goalscorer in 2026 World Cup preliminary stage in all continents.

And his country's 4-1 win versus Italy on Sunday, where Haaland scored twice, guarantees they'll be competing in next summer's World Cup in the American continent.

Haaland, speaking afterwards: "I'm delighted, but primarily relieved. There's considerable expectation and stuff, and I sense it. But it's fun."

This represents only their fourth World Cup, and their initial international competition since the 2000 Euros.

The Crucial Role Has Haaland Been?

The striker's scoring statistics for Norway is absolutely remarkable.

He has scored 55 goals in 48 matches for the national team.

Furthermore he is merely the sixth athlete ever, and the premier in half a century, to score 50 goals in fewer than 50 caps.

The team's earlier leading goalscorer was Jorgen Juve with 33 goals, who maintained that achievement for 90 years.

In these qualifiers he netted 16 strikes - in eight matches - plus two assists.

That is double the goal count any competitor has registered in European qualifying.

He remains the top scorer in these qualifiers in all continents, including ones where teams play twice as more games.

More than twelve months has elapsed since Haaland previously didn't score in a match for his country.

Squad Contribution Complementing Haaland

Yet it isn't just a one-man show.

Team leader Martin Odegaard, 26, has additional assists than anyone else in European preliminary matches - seven assists.

The Gunners playmaker has played 67 times for Norway since his first appearance at the age of 15.

"Merge Haaland's accomplishments with the fact that in this era we also have Martin Odegaard," stated an analyst.

Our nation represents of five million inhabitants and we feature both the best striker and I'd suggest the best playmaker, absolutely including the top creators, in the English top flight.

Historical Significance of World Cup Spot

For the first time in decades Norway supporters will enjoy the excitement of backing their team at an international tournament.

Norway competed in the World Cups in 1938, 1994 and 1998, and the 2000 Euros.

Haaland's father, Alf-Inge Haaland, participated in the 1994 competition.

The striker has mentioned before exceeding his dad represented a significant personal target for him.

"Norway will never win the World Cup," the striker mentioned to a global media outlet in recent months.

Avoiding Historical Omission

Haaland's qualification for the global tournament with Norway ensures he escapes his inclusion on the collection of iconic athletes who missed World Cup action.

Three best player awardees couldn't manage to reach a World Cup.

The Liberian legend, who secured titles with multiple European clubs, played for Liberia - who have never reached a World Cup.

Legendary Red Devils attacker the footballing genius, viewed by plenty as a true legend of the game, was a Northern Irish representative during the sixties and seventies when they couldn't secure qualification.

Madrid superstar the Argentine-Spanish star featured for three national teams - Argentina, Colombia and Spain - but never got to a World Cup with any of them.