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Extraordinary goalgetter Erling Haaland earns a crack at his first major tournament this coming summer, after leading Norway to the World Cup.

Furthermore, the 25-year-old Manchester City striker accomplished it through sensational style, registering 16 goals in eight World Cup qualifiers - finding the back of the net consistently in each of those matches.

This positions him as the highest scorer in 2026 World Cup qualifying in every region.

Moreover, his national team's 4-1 win against Italy on Sunday, featuring a Haaland brace, means they will be playing in next summer's World Cup in North America.

The striker commented afterwards: "I'm delighted, but primarily relieved. There's significant pressure and things, and I experience it. But it's fun."

It will be merely their fourth World Cup, and their initial international competition since Euro 2000.

The Crucial Role Did Haaland Play?

Haaland's goalscoring record for Norway is truly extraordinary.

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

And in fact he is only the sixth player ever, and the premier in half a century, to register 50 finishes in less than 50 appearances.

The team's earlier leading goalscorer was Juve with 33 strikes, who kept that distinction for nine decades.

Throughout these preliminary games he netted 16 strikes - in eight encounters - plus two goal contributions.

This amounts to double the goal count any other player has scored in Europe.

He stands as the leading goalscorer in these qualifiers in every region, even in regions where teams play twice as more games.

Beyond a full year has gone by since Haaland previously didn't score in a match for his country.

Team Effort Alongside Haaland

Yet it isn't solely about one player.

Captain Martin Odegaard, 26, has more assists than any competitor in European preliminary matches - seven assists.

The London club's midfielder has played 67 times for Norway since his initial cap at the tender age of fifteen.

"Pair Haaland's achievements with the fact that in this era we furthermore feature Martin Odegaard," said a Norwegian journalist.

Our nation represents of five million inhabitants and we have both the top forward and I'd propose the top creator, definitely among the best playmakers, in the EPL.

Historical Importance of Qualification

For the premier occasion in decades Norway fans will experience the joy of supporting their national side in worldwide event.

Their nation featured in the World Cups in 1998, 1994 and 1938, and Euro 2000.

Erling's dad, Alf Inge, featured in the 1994 competition.

Erling has previously said exceeding his dad represented a big career ambition for him.

"Norway will cannot win the World Cup," the striker mentioned to an international magazine earlier this year.

Avoiding Historical Exclusion

Haaland's qualification for the upcoming World Cup with Norway ensures he escapes his inclusion on the list of great players who didn't participate in the tournament.

Three best player awardees didn't succeed to reach a World Cup.

The Liberian legend, who won trophies with Monaco, PSG, AC Milan and Chelsea, represented Liberia - who have never reached a World Cup.

Famous United forward the Northern Irish star, regarded by numerous as one of football's greatest players, was a Northern Ireland international during the mid-century period when they couldn't secure qualification.

Real Madrid legend the Argentine-Spanish star represented three national teams - Spain, Argentina and Colombia - but couldn't reach a World Cup with either country.