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Once-in-a-generation striker Erling Haaland secures a crack at his initial international competition next summer, after leading Norway to the World Cup.

Additionally, the 25-year-old Premier League striker did it in outstanding performance, scoring 16 goals in eight World Cup qualifying matches - scoring in every match in every one of those games.

This positions him as the top scorer in 2026 World Cup qualification in any continent.

Additionally, his squad's 4-1 win against Italy on Sunday, featuring a Haaland brace, ensures they will playing in next summer's World Cup in North America.

Haaland, speaking following the match: "I'm happy, but mostly relieved. There's considerable expectation and stuff, and I feel it. But it's fun."

This marks 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 registered 55 goals in 48 matches for Norway.

And in fact he is only the sixth player ever, and the first in 53 years, to score 50 goals in under 50 international games.

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

Throughout these preliminary games he registered 16 finishes - in eight encounters - plus two setup passes.

This amounts to double the scoring total any competitor has scored in Europe.

He is the highest scorer in these preliminary games in any continent, even in regions where teams play double the matches.

Beyond a full year has elapsed since Haaland last failed to score in a international appearance.

Squad Contribution Complementing Haaland

Yet it isn't just a one-man show.

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

The Gunners playmaker has played 67 times for Norway since his initial cap at the tender age of fifteen.

"Combine Haaland's success with the fact that in this era we additionally possess Martin Odegaard," said a Norwegian journalist.

Our nation represents of five million people and we feature both the premier attacker and I'd suggest the premier midfielder, certainly one of the premier midfielders, in the English top flight.

Historical Significance of Successful Qualification

For the first time in decades Norway followers will witness the excitement of backing their squad in global competition.

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

Erling's dad, Alf-Inge Haaland, featured in the 1994 tournament.

Erling has previously said surpassing his father was a major professional goal for him.

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

Escaping Historical Omission

Haaland's qualification for the upcoming World Cup with Norway guarantees he dodges his inclusion on the list of great players who never featured in one.

Three golden ball recipients didn't succeed to qualify for the World Cup.

The Liberian legend, who secured titles with multiple European clubs, featured for Liberia - who didn't make it to a World Cup.

Iconic Manchester United winger the footballing genius, considered by many as one of football's greatest players, was a Ulster footballer during the mid-century period when they did not qualify.

Los Blancos icon the Argentine-Spanish star featured for three countries - Argentina, Colombia and Spain - but never got to a World Cup with any of them.