Erling Haaland Makes History with Landmark Goal in FIFA World Cup

Erling Haaland made headlines by scoring his 60th international goal, leading Norway to their first knockout round victory in World Cup history. This remarkable achievement not only highlights his incredible talent but also sets a new record for the fastest player to reach this milestone. With a decisive goal against Ivory Coast, Haaland continues to impress on the world stage, setting up a challenging match against Brazil in the next round. His scoring prowess has been unmatched, making him one of the standout players of the tournament. Discover more about Haaland's journey and his record-breaking performance in this thrilling World Cup.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 1, 2026, 03:07 IST

Haaland's Historic Goal

Erling Haaland etched his name in history by scoring against Ivory Coast during the Round of 32 match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 30 at Dallas Stadium, Arlington. This victory marked Norway's first-ever win in a knockout round at the World Cup. The Manchester City forward netted the decisive goal in the 86th minute, leading his team to a 2-1 triumph and setting up a pre-quarter-final showdown with Brazil, a five-time champion. After a subdued performance, Haaland capitalized on a brilliant run by Patrick Berg, positioning himself perfectly to score with a simple tap-in.

Record-Breaking Achievement

Erling Haaland Creates History

This goal was Haaland's 60th in international play, achieved in just 53 appearances for Norway. At 25, he surpassed the legendary Ferenc Puskás, who held the previous record for the fastest player to reach 60 goals for his country. Puskás achieved this milestone in 63 matches back in 1954. Haaland's remarkable pace means he is the first player to reach this landmark at a rate exceeding one goal per game.

Fastest Players to 60 International Goals

Fastest To 60 International Goals

Player	Country	Matches Taken To 60 International Goals	Year
Erling Haaland	Norway	53	2026
Ferenc Puskás	Hungary	63	1954
Ali Daei	Iran	68	2000

Haaland's scoring rate is impressive, surpassing that of all-time greats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He reached the milestone in just 69 games, significantly quicker than Messi's 122 and Ronaldo's 130 matches. Among contemporary players, he matches Kylian Mbappé, who took 100 games, while Neymar and Romelu Lukaku reached the mark in 96 and 93 games, respectively. Additionally, Haaland has scored in all three of his World Cup appearances, a rare achievement in the tournament's long history. His five goals in these matches rank among the best starts for any player in World Cup history. Currently, he has scored in his last 13 competitive matches for Norway, totaling 25 goals during this stretch.