When the Norwegian team took a set of photos imbued with Viking imprints before the 2026 World Cup to honor the maritime origins of the nation, Erling Haaland was the most prominent. With long blonde hair and outstanding physique, the 25-year-old striker has the appearance of a true Northern European warrior - an image that is also often seen every time he wears the Manchester City shirt.
More than a millennium after the Norwegian Vikings became the first Europeans to set foot in North America, the Norwegian team is also creating a memorable journey in the United States. After the victory in New York, the players celebrated by rowing boats simulating ancestors, a unique image rarely seen in modern football.
For Haaland, this is his first World Cup in his career. It was not until he was 25 years old that he was able to participate in a major tournament, while his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, had played at the World Cup many years before.
However, the Man City striker did not take long to assert his class. Two consecutive doubles against Iraq and Senegal helped him quickly rise to the top group in the Golden Boot race, alongside Kylian Mbappe.
Not only shining at this year's tournament, Haaland also rewrote the history of Norwegian football. With 4 goals at the 2026 World Cup, he became the top scorer for Norway in the history of the tournament, surpassing all predecessors after only two matches.
Haaland's scoring efficiency is also particularly impressive. This striker has reached 59 goals in 52 appearances for the national team, maintaining an efficiency of more than one goal per game. Previously in the qualifiers, Haaland scored 16 goals in just 8 matches, twice as many as any other European player.
In the past, Norway always had difficulty scoring goals at World Cups. Before Haaland, only Kjetil Rekdal had scored 2 goals for the national team at the biggest football festival on the planet. Now, Haaland has far exceeded that milestone after only two appearances.
The striker born in 2000 once affirmed that his biggest goal in his career is to bring Norway back to the World Cup. He has done that and also helped the team win a ticket to the round of 32, opening up hope for a historic journey.
If previously Haaland was often seen as a simple "penalty box killer", now he is showing the image of a true leader. Not only scoring goals, Haaland also actively participates in defense, supports teammates and inspires the whole team.
The match against France in the last round of the group stage will be a highly anticipated showdown between Haaland and Mbappe. This is not only a race between the two best strikers in the world today, but also an opportunity for Haaland to continue to affirm that his Norway is strong enough to compete with the "big guys" of world football.
Right now I'm not too worried about that match anymore. We have already gone further. The French team will probably win against us, and they are also likely to win this tournament" - Haaland shared.
