In East Rutherford, N.J., Norway’s Erling Haaland dominated much of the match against Brazil, strategically waiting for his opportunity to strike. Standing at 6-foot-5, he towered over most Brazilian players. His chance arose in the 79th minute when Andreas Schjelderup sent a ball toward the goal. Haaland leapt and headed it into the net, surpassing Brazil’s 6-foot-3 defender Gabriel Magalhães, a Premier League rival.
During the celebration, Haaland appeared composed, offering a sly smile to the crowd while Schjelderup and the rest of Norway mobbed him. As the excitement eased, teammates gathered around Haaland, showing gratitude with a pat and a kiss on his cheek. This act highlighted Haaland’s significance to Norway. He scored twice in the match, leading his country to a 2-1 win over Brazil and securing a place in the World Cup quarterfinals, marking Norway’s furthest advancement in the tournament’s history.
“I’m lost for words. We’re all lost for words,” Schjelderup said. “I think we’re all just happy that he’s Norwegian and that he’s playing for us. The things he does every game, to be able to score. It doesn’t matter: you can just cross the ball or pass to him blindly and he will score. We’re so lucky to have him.”
Haaland, a star for Manchester City in the English Premier League, is widely recognized as one of the top strikers today. He has captured the attention of fans around the globe, yet he has taken his game to new heights during this World Cup. With seven goals, he now ties with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé for the tournament’s top scorers. Haaland himself was at a loss for words regarding his impressive performances. “I don’t have words,” he said, “It’s difficult to put words in what I’m feeling, what I’m doing, because it is unreal. I need to pinch myself sometimes in the arm because it’s big, you know?”
As the tournament unfolded, many soccer enthusiasts discovered Haaland, Norway’s Viking-like forward. He netted two goals each against Iraq and Senegal, and delivered the decisive goal against the Ivory Coast in the last 32. Celebrating with a Viking hat after that match, he embraced the World Cup’s festive spirit.
For those who follow his social media, his adventures in the U.S. during the tournament were not surprising. Haaland shared photos wearing a cowboy hat in Texas and visiting Times Square and Katz’s Delicatessen in New York. Despite these casual portrayals, Haaland remains a formidable player on the pitch. The match against Brazil was tense until Haaland broke the deadlock with a stunning header in the 16th round, followed by a remarkable second goal in the 90th minute.
On his next goal, Haaland received a pass from about 24 yards out, with five Brazilians nearby. He controlled the ball and struck a left-footed shot through a defender’s legs into the opposite corner. For his celebration, he jokingly pretended to remove his shirt, then teasingly wagged his finger to indicate otherwise.
“It’s almost like a cheat code,” said Norway’s David Møller Wolfe. “Sometimes it feels like you’re already winning 1-0 or 2-0 before you start the game because you know he’s going to score one or two.”
Looking ahead, Norway will face England or Mexico in the quarterfinals. Haaland has another opportunity to surpass Messi and Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot, awarded to the World Cup’s leading scorer. Norway made its first World Cup appearance in nearly three decades due to Haaland and his generation of players. This victory over Brazil demonstrated Norway’s rise as a formidable team in Europe and worldwide.
Reflecting on the win, Haaland acknowledged, “What we’ve been doing is amazing. And it took 28 years. It took some time. I’m 25 years old, so you can’t really blame me for that.” As the final whistle blew, marking history for Norway, Haaland took a moment to acknowledge the Norwegian fans. Pondering the achievement, he stated, “I couldn’t quite believe it. Because I didn’t dream of this ever in my life. I dreamt of playing in the World Cup with Norway… but I never expected to win against Brazil. Let’s be honest and say that. I mean, I thought it was not possible to do some things. But I guess I’m wrong.”