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Extraordinary goalgetter Erling Haaland earns a chance to play in his first major tournament next summer, following his guidance Norway to the World Cup.

Additionally, the 25-year-old Premier League striker achieved it with outstanding performance, scoring 16 goals in eight World Cup preliminary games - finding the back of the net consistently in every one of those games.

That makes him the highest scorer in 2026 World Cup qualifying in any continent.

Additionally, his national team's 4-1 win versus Italy on Sunday, featuring a Haaland brace, ensures they will competing in next summer's World Cup in the American continent.

Haaland, speaking afterwards: "I'm pleased, but primarily relieved. There's a lot of pressure and stuff, and I feel it. But it's fun."

It will be merely their fourth World Cup, and their premier global event since the 2000 Euros.

What Significance Was Haaland's Contribution?

His goal tally for Norway is nothing short of phenomenal.

He has registered 55 goals in 48 matches for his country.

And in fact he is only the sixth player ever, and the first in 53 years, to score 50 goals in under 50 international games.

Norway's previous highest scorer was Juve with 33 strikes, who kept that distinction for almost a century.

During these qualifying matches he netted 16 strikes - in eight encounters - plus two goal contributions.

That is double the goal count any other player has scored in Europe.

He remains the top scorer in these qualifying matches in any continent, including areas where national sides participate twice the number of encounters.

More than twelve months has passed since Haaland previously didn't score in a international appearance.

Squad Contribution Alongside Haaland

Yet it isn't only about Haaland.

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

The Gunners playmaker has featured in 67 matches for Norway since making his debut at the young age of 15.

"Pair Haaland's achievements with the truth that in this period we additionally possess Martin Odegaard," stated an analyst.

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

Historical Importance of Successful Qualification

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

Their nation participated in the World Cups in 1938, 1994 and 1998, and the 2000 Euros.

Haaland's father, Alf Inge, played at the 1994 competition.

The striker has mentioned before being better than his father was a major professional goal for him.

"Norway will never win the World Cup," the striker mentioned to a global media outlet earlier this year.

Escaping Historical Omission

Haaland's qualification for the upcoming World Cup with Norway guarantees he dodges his name going on the roster of legendary footballers who missed World Cup action.

Three golden ball recipients didn't succeed to reach a World Cup.

George Weah, who won trophies with multiple European clubs, represented Liberia - who didn't make it to a World Cup.

Famous United forward 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.

Real Madrid legend the Argentine-Spanish star represented three countries - Argentina, Colombia and Spain - but never got to a World Cup with any of them.