Erling Haaland Breaks Norway’s All-Time Goalscoring Record In Nations League Victory.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has made history by becoming Norway’s all-time leading goalscorer at the age of 24, after scoring twice in their UEFA Nations League win against Slovenia.
Haaland’s first goal of the match brought him level with Jørgen Juve’s long-standing record of 33 international goals, a mark that had stood since the 1930s. Haaland then sealed his place in history by netting his 34th international goal in the second half, breaking the record outright.
Juve, who played as a forward before transitioning to a centre-back role later in his career, set the previous record over 45 caps, scoring all 33 of his goals in his first 27 appearances for Norway. After retiring from football, Juve became a newspaper journalist, and his goalscoring record had remained unchallenged for nearly 90 years.
Haaland, who made his debut for Norway in 2019, needed only 36 games to surpass Juve’s tally. His historic goal came from a clinical first-time finish from 16 yards out, capping off an outstanding individual performance in which he registered 10 shots, with seven on target. Haaland’s relentless drive and precision were on full display, and he captained the team in the absence of the injured Martin Ødegaard.
The match ended 2-0 in Norway’s favour, with Alexander Sørloth scoring the other goal. Haaland’s decisive second goal came after he pounced on a rebound, slotting the ball through the legs of Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Following the match, Haaland took to social media to share a celebratory photo, holding the match ball under his shirt, accompanied by a baby emoji and the word “soon,” hinting that his partner Isabel may be expecting a child.
Although Haaland’s 34 goals may seem modest compared to international icons such as Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 132 goals for Portugal, or Lionel Messi’s 109 for Argentina, it remains a significant milestone for Norway. Haaland’s tally also surpasses those of many footballing legends, including Scotland’s top scorers Kenny Dalglish and Denis Law, who both finished their international careers with 30 goals.
As Haaland continues to dominate both on the international stage and in club football, breaking records seems to have become second nature for the Norwegian striker. With many years ahead of him, he could go on to set even greater milestones for his country.
