At the age of five, Erling Haaland recorded a standing long jump of 1.63 metres a mark that still stands as a world record. Even as a child, Haaland showed extraordinary athletic ability and was later invited to join Norway’s national handball setup during his teenage years.

Haaland is the same player who scored nine goals single-handedly against Honduras in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Known for his explosive pace and finishing ability, he is considered one of the players capable of making a major impact at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Norwegian striker rose rapidly in world football. He made his professional debut at the age of 15 for Norwegian club Bryne FK before moving to Molde FK, where he scored on his debut appearance.

At the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Norway defeated Honduras 12-0, with Haaland alone netting nine goals in the historic match.

In 2020, Haaland joined Borussia Dortmund and played a key role in helping the club win the DFB-Pokal title in 2021. He scored 86 goals in 89 appearances for the German side.

Haaland later helped Manchester City F.C. win their first-ever UEFA Champions League title during the 2022/23 season. In the same campaign, he finished as one of the competition’s top scorers and helped City secure two Premier League titles within his first three seasons at the club.

He made an immediate impact at Dortmund by scoring his first five goals within just 56 minutes of play. Haaland then reached 50 goals in only 50 matches, breaking a long-standing record set by Timo Konietzka in 1965. That achievement was later surpassed by Harry Kane.

During his first Premier League season with Manchester City, Haaland set a new record for most goals in a single campaign with 36 goals. He also became the fastest player to reach both 50 and 100 Premier League goals.

He achieved 50 goals in just 48 matches and reached 100 goals in 111 games, surpassing previous records held by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer. In the UEFA Champions League, Haaland scored 50 goals in only 49 matches, breaking the previous record held by Ruud van Nistelrooy.

For Norway, Haaland reached 50 international goals in just 46 appearances, becoming the first player in 53 years to achieve the feat in fewer than 50 international matches. In doing so, he matched legendary names such as Gerd Müller, Ferenc Puskás, Pelé and others.

In 2025, Haaland scored 17 goals in nine international matches, making him the highest-scoring player in international football that year, six goals ahead of his nearest rival.

Norway’s World Cup History

Norway national football team first appeared at the FIFA World Cup in 1938. Despite being considered underdogs, Norway pushed defending champions Italy into extra time.

Norway returned to the World Cup after 56 years in 1994. Although they finished level on points and goal difference with Mexico, the Republic of Ireland and Italy, they were eliminated in the group stage due to scoring fewer goals.

Four years later, Norway impressed at the 1998 World Cup by defeating Brazil and reaching the Round of 16 before losing to Italy.

Since then, Norway have failed to qualify for the tournament, but the team is now aiming to return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence.

In the World Cup qualifiers, Norway defeated Italy both home and away, winning all eight matches while scoring 37 goals and conceding only five. Alongside Haaland, the squad also features wing-back Julian Ryerson, midfielder Sander Berge, playmaker Martin Ødegaard and winger Antonio Nusa.