Erling Haaland mentioned he wished he may have returned to his dwelling nation and joined the celebration after main Norway to a historic 2-1 victory over Brazil within the Spherical of 16 of the World Cup.
Haaland scored each objectives as Staare Solbakken’s facet defeated the five-time champions to achieve the World Cup quarter-finals for the primary time of their historical past, the place they’ll face England.
The Manchester Metropolis striker outscored Premier League rival Gabriel Magalhães to attain Norway’s first objective within the 79th minute, firing a shot from distance into the underside proper nook of the objective to present Norway a two-goal lead within the last minute of the ninetieth minute.
When Neymar transformed a penalty in stoppage time, Orjan Nyland, who had saved Bruno Guimarães’ spot-kick within the first half, was unable to repeat the method and there was some pressure, however Norway held agency.
Haaland is the primary Norwegian participant to attain two objectives within the last of a significant worldwide match (World Cup or Euro).
Moreover, Haaland has been the one participant to attain multiple objective in a match in a significant match in any spherical, all at this yr’s World Cup (twice towards Brazil, twice towards Senegal and twice towards Iraq).
Haaland has scored seven objectives within the competitors, placing him on the prime of the Golden Boot race alongside Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, and people objectives got here from simply 18 photographs on the right track.
His shot conversion price of 39% is the very best by a single World Cup participant (with 15 or extra shot makes an attempt) since 1986, when Gary Lineker scored six objectives from 15 photographs.
Haaland, now a full-time participant, led the way in which as Norway’s gamers, employees and followers marked victory within the now-iconic Viking Row celebrations, however he would have reasonably been contained in the frenzy that accompanied the victory in Oslo.
“I want I had been on that avenue. I want I had been part of it,” Haaland mentioned of the celebration. “Everybody has to take pleasure in themselves. All of Norway has to take pleasure in itself.
“At present is among the worst days within the historical past of Norway. We simply should take pleasure in it, as a result of that is horrible.”
4 – Erling Haaland is the fourth participant to attain as many as 4 successful objectives in a single FIFA World Cup.
5 – Grzegorz Rat (1974)
5 – Salvatore Schillaci (1990)
4 – Erling Haaland (2026)
4 – Gerd Müller (1970)distinction. pic.twitter.com/wzRd2mZyLF
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 5, 2026
Solbakken additionally advised Norwegian followers to benefit from the second, saying: “I feel all Norwegians are experiencing the night time of a lifetime. We’ll most likely be partying for a few week!”
“The winner of the match was Erling, however I am completely satisfied that everybody performed their half on the best night time within the historical past of Norwegian soccer. Everybody performed their half.”
“It is a nice group. They love being collectively, they prepare nicely, they assist one another and defend one another.
“We’ve a powerful tradition and folks have the chance to be themselves and say no matter they need to say. That is actually essential when issues go nicely and once they do not.”
Norway is the one workforce Brazil has ever confronted with no win, and Sunday’s recreation can be Brazil’s fifth head-to-head assembly (Norway has received three and drawn two).
That is Brazil’s earliest elimination from the World Cup since they misplaced 1-0 to Argentina within the Spherical of 16 in 1990. Till this yr, Brazil had reached no less than the quarterfinals in eight consecutive tournaments.
