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Once-in-a-generation marksman Erling Haaland secures a crack at his first major tournament in the upcoming season, following his guidance Norway to the World Cup.

And the 25-year-old Premier League striker accomplished it through remarkable fashion, registering 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 top scorer in 2026 World Cup qualification in all continents.

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

Haaland stated post-game: "I'm pleased, but mostly relieved. There's considerable expectation and factors, and I feel it. But it's fun."

This represents merely their fourth World Cup, and their first major tournament since the 2000 Euros.

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.

And in fact he is merely the sixth athlete ever, and the initial one in over five decades, to score 50 goals in fewer than 50 caps.

The team's earlier leading goalscorer was 33-goal Jorgen Juve, who kept that distinction for nine decades.

During these qualifying matches he netted 16 strikes - in eight games - plus two assists.

That is double the scoring total anyone else has scored in Europe.

He is the highest scorer in these qualifying matches in every region, including ones where squads compete twice the number of encounters.

More than twelve months has passed since Haaland previously didn't score in a game for Norway.

Squad Contribution Complementing Haaland

Yet it isn't solely about one player.

Skipper Martin Odegaard, 26, has additional assists than any competitor in UEFA qualification - seven assists.

The Gunners playmaker has featured in 67 matches for Norway since his first appearance at the tender age of fifteen.

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

Our nation represents of five million inhabitants and we possess both the best striker and I'd suggest the best playmaker, absolutely including the best playmakers, in the Premier League.

Historical Importance of Qualification

For the first time in many years Norway fans will experience the joy of supporting their team at an international tournament.

The Scandinavian country participated in the World Cups in 1998, 1994 and 1938, and the 2000 Euros.

Erling's dad, Alf-Inge Haaland, played at the 1994 competition.

Haaland has earlier stated being better than his dad represented a big career ambition for him.

"Norway will never win the World Cup," the striker mentioned to an international magazine earlier this year.

Dodging Historical Omission

Haaland's qualification for next summer's World Cup with Norway means he avoids his inclusion on the list of great players who didn't participate in the tournament.

Three Ballon d'Or winners couldn't manage to qualify for the World Cup.

George Weah, who claimed championships with multiple European clubs, represented Liberia - who haven't qualified for a World Cup.

Famous United forward the Northern Irish star, considered by many as among the best ever, was a Northern Irish representative during the sixties and seventies when they did not qualify.

Real Madrid legend the footballing pioneer featured for three national teams - Colombia, Spain and Argentina - but couldn't reach a World Cup with any national team.