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Generational striker Erling Haaland secures a crack at his initial international competition in the upcoming season, after leading Norway to the World Cup.

And the 25-year-old Premier League striker achieved it with sensational style, registering 16 goals in eight World Cup qualifying matches - finding the back of the net consistently in each of those matches.

This establishes him as the top scorer in 2026 World Cup preliminary stage in any continent.

And his national team's 4-1 win versus Italy on Sunday, where Haaland scored twice, guarantees they'll be participating in next summer's World Cup in North America.

Haaland, speaking following the match: "I'm delighted, but more relieved. There's considerable expectation and factors, and I experience it. But it's fun."

This represents just their fourth World Cup, and their first major tournament since the 2000 Euros.

How Important Did Haaland Play?

Haaland's goalscoring record for Norway is truly extraordinary.

He has registered 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 score 50 goals in less than 50 appearances.

The team's earlier top scorer was Jorgen Juve with 33 goals, who maintained that achievement for 90 years.

Throughout these preliminary games he netted 16 strikes - in eight matches - plus two goal contributions.

That is double the goal count any competitor has registered in European qualifying.

He is the leading goalscorer in these qualifying matches in every region, including ones where teams play twice the number of encounters.

More than twelve months has elapsed since Haaland most recently didn't net in a international appearance.

Collective Performance Complementing Haaland

But it is not only about Haaland.

Skipper Martin Odegaard, 26, has greater goal contributions than any other player in European qualifying - seven.

The Gunners playmaker has made 67 appearances for Norway since his first appearance at the age of 15.

"Combine Haaland's success with the reality that in this era we furthermore feature Martin Odegaard," stated a Norwegian journalist.

Our nation represents of five million citizens and we feature both the premier attacker and I would argue the best playmaker, certainly one of the premier midfielders, in the English top flight.

Historical Importance of World Cup Spot

Initially in many years Norway followers will witness the excitement of backing their national side in worldwide event.

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

His father, Alf-Inge Haaland, played at the 1994 World Cup.

The striker has mentioned before being better than his dad represented a significant personal target for him.

"Norway will never win the World Cup," Haaland Jr told an international magazine recently.

Dodging Historical Exclusion

Haaland's qualification for the upcoming World Cup with Norway means he avoids his name going on the roster of legendary footballers who missed World Cup action.

Three best player awardees couldn't manage to participate in the global tournament.

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

Iconic Manchester United winger George Best, viewed by plenty as among the best ever, was a Ulster footballer during the 1960s and 70s when they failed to qualify.

Madrid superstar the footballing pioneer played for three national teams - Spain, Argentina and Colombia - but never got to a World Cup with any of them.