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Extraordinary striker Erling Haaland secures a crack at his first major tournament this coming summer, following his guidance Norway to the World Cup.

Additionally, the 25-year-old Manchester City striker accomplished it through remarkable fashion, registering 16 goals in eight World Cup qualifiers - netting at least once in all those encounters.

This positions him as the highest scorer in 2026 World Cup qualification in any continent.

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

Haaland stated afterwards: "I'm happy, but mostly relieved. There's considerable expectation and factors, and I experience it. But it's fun."

This represents just their fourth World Cup, and their premier global event since the 2000 Euros.

How Important Was Haaland's Contribution?

The striker's scoring statistics for Norway is absolutely remarkable.

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

Additionally he is merely the sixth athlete ever, and the premier in half a century, to register 50 finishes in under 50 international games.

The team's earlier leading goalscorer was 33-goal Jorgen Juve, who maintained that achievement for almost a century.

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

This represents twice the goal count any other player has netted in UEFA matches.

He remains the leading goalscorer in these qualifiers in any continent, even in regions where national sides participate double the matches.

Beyond a full year has passed since Haaland last failed to score in a match for his country.

Collective Performance Complementing Haaland

But it is not solely about one player.

Team leader Martin Odegaard, 26, has greater goal contributions than anyone else in European preliminary matches - seven setups.

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

"Merge Haaland's accomplishments with the fact that in this generation we furthermore feature Martin Odegaard," stated a Norwegian journalist.

Norway is a nation of five million people and we have both the best striker and I'd propose the best playmaker, certainly one of the top creators, in the EPL.

Historical Significance of World Cup Spot

For the premier occasion in many years Norway followers will witness the pleasure of cheering their squad in global competition.

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

His father, Alf Inge, participated in the 1994 competition.

Haaland has earlier stated surpassing his dad represented a big career ambition for him.

"Norway will not win the World Cup," the striker mentioned to a major publication recently.

Dodging Historical Exclusion

Haaland heading to the upcoming World Cup with Norway ensures he escapes his inclusion on the list of great players who never featured in one.

Three best player awardees never managed to reach a World Cup.

The Liberian legend, who won trophies with multiple European clubs, played for Liberia - who didn't make it to a World Cup.

Legendary Red Devils attacker the footballing genius, considered by many as one of football's greatest players, was a Northern Ireland international during the mid-century period when they failed to qualify.

Madrid superstar Alfredo di Stefano represented three countries - Argentina, Colombia and Spain - but couldn't reach a World Cup with any national team.