Erling Haaland Registers Historic Half-Century: Decoding His International Goal Stats
By Rajdeep Saha | Oct 12, 2025, 01:33 AM
Erling Haaland put on a stunning display as Norway crushed Israel 5-0 in a crucial UEFA World Cup Qualifiers Group Stage match (Group I) at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo. Despite the match being overshadowed by pro-Palestinian protests and heightened security measures, Norway’s commanding victory has propelled them to the brink of qualification for their first World Cup since 1998.
Match Highlights
Haaland, who stars for Manchester City, had a dramatic start to the game. He missed two penalties within the opening five minutes, both saved by Israel’s goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. Yet, the striker bounced back strongly to double Norway’s lead with a precise right-footed finish following an own goal by Israel’s A. Khalaili.
Norway’s dominance continued as Israel defender Idan Nachmias also scored an own goal, handing Norway their third. Haaland then showcased his aerial prowess, scoring his second goal through a towering header. He completed his hat-trick by nodding home a cross from Antonio Nusa at the back post, sealing the emphatic victory.
Haaland’s International Goal Milestones
With this match, Haaland has now scored an incredible 51 goals in just 46 appearances for Norway across all competitions. His 2025 calendar year form has been particularly impressive—netting 13 goals in only 7 matches.
Haaland’s opening goal of the night also marked his 10th consecutive game scoring across club and country, underscoring his consistency. This season alone, he has scored in 11 of his 12 appearances for Manchester City and Norway combined.
Remarkably, this was Haaland’s sixth international hat-trick for Norway, placing him just four hat-tricks shy of the record jointly held by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, according to BBC Sport.
Norway on the Verge of World Cup Qualification
The victory has put Norway in an enviable position to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Currently, Norway leads Group I by nine points ahead of second-placed Italy, although Italy has two games in hand.
Norway can secure their place in the tournament with a win against Estonia on November 13, a match that promises to be a milestone for the team and for Haaland personally.
As Haaland continues to shatter records and lead Norway with remarkable goal-scoring prowess, the football world will be watching closely as they edge closer to ending their World Cup drought.
