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Generational striker Erling Haaland secures a chance to play in his initial international competition in the upcoming season, after leading Norway to the World Cup.

And the 25-year-old Premier League striker did it in sensational style, scoring 16 goals in eight World Cup qualifying matches - finding the back of the net consistently in each of those matches.

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

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

Haaland stated following the match: "I'm pleased, but more relieved. There's considerable expectation and factors, and I feel it. But it's exciting."

It will be merely their fourth World Cup, and their initial international competition since the 2000 European Championship.

The Crucial Role Did Haaland Play?

The striker's scoring statistics for Norway is nothing short of phenomenal.

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

And in fact he is merely the sixth athlete ever, and the first in 53 years, to net 50 strikes in less than 50 appearances.

The nation's former leading goalscorer was Jorgen Juve with 33 goals, who held that record for almost a century.

In these qualifiers he registered 16 finishes - in eight games - plus two setup passes.

That is double the goal count any other player has netted in UEFA matches.

He is the highest scorer in these preliminary games in all continents, including areas where squads compete twice the number of encounters.

Beyond a full year has gone by since Haaland most recently didn't net in a game for Norway.

Team Effort Beyond Haaland

However, it's not solely about one player.

Team leader Martin Odegaard, 26, has greater goal contributions than any competitor in UEFA qualification - seven.

The London club's midfielder has made 67 appearances for Norway since his first appearance at the tender age of fifteen.

"Combine Haaland's success with the reality that in this era we additionally possess Martin Odegaard," commented an analyst.

We're a country of five million people and we have both the premier attacker and I would argue the premier midfielder, absolutely including the premier midfielders, in the Premier League.

Historical Relevance of Qualification

Initially in a generation Norway fans will experience the excitement of backing their team at an international tournament.

Norway competed in the World Cups in 1998, 1994 and 1938, and the 2000 Euros.

Erling's dad, Alf-Inge Haaland, participated in the 1994 World Cup.

Erling has previously said being better than his dad represented a significant personal target for him.

"Norway will not win the World Cup," Haaland stated to an international magazine earlier this year.

Escaping Historical Exclusion

Haaland's qualification for the upcoming World Cup with Norway ensures he escapes his addition to the roster of legendary footballers who never featured in one.

Three golden ball recipients never managed to reach a World Cup.

The Liberian legend, who secured titles with Monaco, PSG, AC Milan and Chelsea, represented Liberia - who didn't make it to a World Cup.

Iconic Manchester United winger the Northern Irish star, regarded by numerous as one of football's greatest players, was a Northern Irish representative during the mid-century period when they couldn't secure qualification.

Los Blancos icon the footballing pioneer featured for three national teams - Colombia, Spain and Argentina - but couldn't reach a World Cup with any of them.