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Extraordinary marksman Erling Haaland earns an opportunity in his first major tournament this coming summer, after leading Norway to the World Cup.

And the 25-year-old Manchester City striker achieved it with remarkable fashion, registering 16 goals in eight World Cup preliminary games - netting at least once in each of those matches.

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

And his country's 4-1 win versus Italy on Sunday, where Haaland scored twice, means they will be competing in next summer's World Cup in the American continent.

The striker commented afterwards: "I'm pleased, but more relieved. There's significant pressure and things, and I sense it. But it's exciting."

It will be merely their fourth World Cup, and their initial international competition since the 2000 Euros.

The Crucial Role Was Haaland's Contribution?

Haaland's goalscoring record for Norway is truly extraordinary.

He has scored 55 goals in 48 matches for Norway.

And in fact he is merely the sixth athlete ever, and the first in 53 years, to score 50 goals in fewer than 50 caps.

The nation's former top scorer was Juve with 33 strikes, who maintained that achievement for 90 years.

During these qualifying matches he scored 16 goals - in eight encounters - plus two assists.

This represents twice the goal count anyone else has registered in European qualifying.

He remains the leading goalscorer in these qualifying matches in any continent, even in regions where squads compete twice as more games.

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

Collective Performance Alongside Haaland

Yet it isn't solely about one player.

Captain Martin Odegaard, 26, has greater goal contributions than any competitor in European qualifying - seven.

The Gunners playmaker has featured in 67 matches for Norway since his first appearance at the age of 15.

"Pair Haaland's achievements with the reality that in this generation we also have Martin Odegaard," stated a Norwegian journalist.

Norway is a nation of five million people and we feature both the best striker and I'd suggest the premier midfielder, certainly one of the best playmakers, in the English top flight.

Historical Significance of Qualification

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

The Scandinavian country participated in the World Cups in 1938, 1994 and 1998, and the 2000 European Championship.

Erling's dad, Alf-Inge Haaland, played at the 1994 competition.

The striker has mentioned before exceeding his dad represented a major professional goal for him.

"Norway will not win the World Cup," Haaland stated to an international magazine in recent months.

Escaping Historical Exclusion

Haaland's qualification for the global tournament with Norway ensures he escapes his addition to the roster of legendary footballers who didn't participate in the tournament.

Three best player awardees never managed to participate in the global tournament.

The Liberian legend, who claimed championships with Monaco, PSG, AC Milan and Chelsea, featured for Liberia - who haven't qualified for a World Cup.

Legendary Red Devils attacker George Best, considered by many as a true legend of the game, was a Ulster footballer during the 1960s and 70s when they did not qualify.

Los Blancos icon Alfredo di Stefano represented three nations - Spain, Argentina and Colombia - but couldn't reach a World Cup with any of them.