Erling Haaland once again proved why he’s one of the most feared strikers in the world, setting a new record for Norway on Thursday. In a dominant 3-0 victory over Slovenia in the UEFA Nations League, Haaland netted twice, surpassing Joergen Juve’s 92-year-old record of 33 international goals to become Norway’s all-time leading scorer.
The Manchester City star embraced the added responsibility of captaining the side in the absence of the injured Martin Odegaard. From the outset, it was clear Haaland was hungry for goals. He opened the scoring in the seventh minute, expertly converting a rebound after Jan Oblak parried Antonio Nusa’s powerful shot. The goal tied him with Juve, whose final international goal came against an Austrian amateur side in 1934.
Haaland could have broken the record even earlier in the second half, but his header sailed over the bar. However, fellow striker Alexander Sorloth doubled Norway’s lead after Slovenia defender Vanja Drkusic’s attempted clearance fell into his path.
Despite his goal-scoring prowess, Haaland was keen to involve his teammates, showing a more rounded game than just a pure goalscorer. In the 62nd minute, Sorloth returned the favor, setting up Haaland for a trademark left-foot finish, sending the striker to the top of Norway’s scoring charts with his 34th international goal in his 36th appearance.
Known for his direct and powerful style, Haaland was a constant threat throughout the match. He even contributed defensively, heading clearances and orchestrating Norway’s attacks, showcasing his versatility on the pitch.
The 24-year-old striker expressed his delight with the record, stating, “Of course, it’s big and historic. I’m happy, and it’s a fantastic record to achieve… I have many years left. I’m enjoying myself.”
Norway, which hasn’t qualified for a major tournament since Euro 2000, now leads League B Group 3 with seven points, three ahead of Austria and Slovenia. They face a challenging away match against Austria on Sunday. “Now we have a hard away game – even though we won at home, we must not build up our expectations too much, we must not hype ourselves up too much,” Haaland cautioned.
Haaland’s record-breaking performance highlights his continued development as a complete footballer. He not only possesses the lethal finishing ability that has made him a global star, but also demonstrates the leadership and all-round game necessary to become a true icon for Norwegian football.
