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Once-in-a-generation goalgetter Erling Haaland will get a crack at his first major tournament this coming summer, after leading Norway to the World Cup.

Additionally, the 25-year-old Manchester City striker achieved it with remarkable fashion, netting 16 goals in eight World Cup qualifying matches - scoring in every match in every one of those games.

That makes him the leading goalscorer in 2026 World Cup qualifying in every region.

And his national team's 4-1 win against Italy on Sunday, with Haaland netting two goals, ensures they will competing in next summer's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Haaland stated following the match: "I'm delighted, but primarily relieved. There's a lot of pressure and stuff, and I sense it. But it's enjoyable."

It will be only their fourth World Cup, and their first major tournament since Euro 2000.

The Crucial Role Did Haaland Play?

His goal tally for Norway is absolutely remarkable.

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

Furthermore he is just the sixth footballer ever, and the initial one in over five decades, to register 50 finishes in under 50 international games.

Norway's previous leading goalscorer was Juve with 33 strikes, who held that record for almost a century.

In these qualifiers he registered 16 finishes - in eight games - plus two goal contributions.

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

He is the top scorer in these qualifying matches in all continents, even in regions where national sides participate twice the number of encounters.

More than twelve months has passed since Haaland last failed to score in a match for his country.

Collective Performance Beyond Haaland

But it is not solely about one player.

Captain Martin Odegaard, 26, has more assists than anyone else in European preliminary matches - seven.

The Arsenal midfielder has featured in 67 matches for Norway since his first appearance at the young age of 15.

"Pair Haaland's achievements with the fact that in this period we furthermore feature Martin Odegaard," said an analyst.

We're a country of five million people and we have both the best striker and I'd suggest the premier midfielder, absolutely including the premier midfielders, in the Premier League.

Historical Importance of World Cup Spot

Initially in decades Norway supporters will enjoy the joy of supporting their squad in global competition.

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

His father, Alf-Inge Haaland, featured in the 1994 competition.

The striker has mentioned before surpassing his father was a significant personal target for him.

"Norway will never win the World Cup," Haaland Jr told a global media outlet earlier this year.

Escaping Historical Oversight

Haaland's participation in the global tournament with Norway guarantees he dodges his name going on the collection of iconic athletes who never featured in one.

Three best player awardees didn't succeed to participate in the global tournament.

The Liberian legend, who claimed championships with various top teams, featured for Liberia - who haven't qualified for a World Cup.

Famous United forward George Best, regarded by numerous as among the best ever, was a Ulster footballer during the mid-century period when they couldn't secure qualification.

Madrid superstar the Argentine-Spanish star featured for three countries - Argentina, Colombia and Spain - but didn't make it to a World Cup with any of them.