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Generational goalgetter Erling Haaland will get a chance to play in his initial international competition this coming summer, thanks to his efforts with Norway to the World Cup.

And the 25-year-old Manchester City striker achieved it with sensational style, registering 16 goals in eight World Cup qualifying matches - netting at least once in all those encounters.

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

Additionally, his national team's 4-1 win versus Italy on Sunday, with Haaland netting two goals, guarantees they'll be competing in next summer's World Cup in the American continent.

Haaland stated afterwards: "I'm happy, but more relieved. There's considerable expectation and stuff, and I sense it. But it's fun."

This marks merely their fourth World Cup, and their initial international competition since the 2000 European Championship.

The Crucial Role Was Haaland's Contribution?

Haaland's goalscoring record for Norway is absolutely remarkable.

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

Additionally he is only the sixth player ever, and the initial one in over five decades, to score 50 goals in under 50 international games.

Norway's previous top scorer was Jorgen Juve with 33 goals, who kept that distinction for 90 years.

In these qualifiers he scored 16 goals - in eight encounters - plus two goal contributions.

This amounts to double the scoring total any competitor has netted in UEFA matches.

He stands as the leading goalscorer in these qualifiers in every region, including areas where squads compete double the matches.

More than twelve months has gone by since Haaland most recently didn't net in a game for Norway.

Squad Contribution Complementing Haaland

Yet it isn't solely about one player.

Captain Martin Odegaard, 26, has more assists than any other player in European qualifying - seven setups.

The Arsenal midfielder has featured in 67 matches for Norway since making his debut at the age of 15.

"Merge Haaland's accomplishments with the reality that in this generation we additionally possess Martin Odegaard," stated a Norwegian journalist.

We're a country of five million inhabitants and we possess both the best striker and I would argue the top creator, definitely among the top creators, in the Premier League.

Historical Significance of Successful Qualification

For the premier occasion in many years Norway fans will experience the pleasure of cheering their team at an international tournament.

Their nation competed in the World Cups in 1994, 1998 and 1938, and the 2000 European Championship.

His father, Alf-Inge Haaland, featured in the 1994 World Cup.

Haaland has earlier stated being better than his dad represented a major professional goal for him.

"Norway will never win the World Cup," the striker mentioned to a major publication recently.

Escaping Historical Omission

Haaland's qualification for the global tournament with Norway ensures he escapes his name going on the collection of iconic athletes who didn't participate in the tournament.

Three Ballon d'Or winners couldn't manage to reach a World Cup.

George Weah, who won trophies with Monaco, PSG, AC Milan and Chelsea, played for Liberia - who haven't qualified for a World Cup.

Famous United forward George Best, considered by many as among the best ever, was a Ulster footballer during the 1960s and 70s when they did not qualify.

Los Blancos icon the footballing pioneer represented three nations - Argentina, Colombia and Spain - but never got to a World Cup with any of them.