Stale Solbakken hails Erling Haaland as world’s best goalscorer after Norway book Brazil showdown

• Erling Haaland scored the winner as Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 to reach the World Cup round of 16.
• Norway coach Stale Solbakken described Haaland as the world’s greatest goalscorer and said he “wouldn’t swap him for anybody.”
• Norway will face five-time champions Brazil after recording the nation’s first-ever World Cup knockout victory.

Norway head coach Stale Solbakken hailed Erling Haaland as the world’s greatest goalscorer after the striker’s late winner against Ivory Coast secured a 2-1 victory and sent his country into a historic World Cup round-of-16 clash with Brazil.

Haaland struck the decisive goal in Dallas to take his tally to five goals in three World Cup matches, leaving him just one behind Lionel Messi in the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot.

The Manchester City forward has now scored in every competitive match for Norway since October 2024, a remarkable run that has produced 25 goals in 13 appearances.

Despite Haaland spending long periods on the fringes of the game against Ivory Coast, Solbakken said the striker once again demonstrated why he is unmatched in front of goal.

“He is the greatest goal scorer in the world, there is no doubt about that,” Solbakken told reporters.

“Today he didn’t have much involvement, but he had a big chance in the first half and then scored the goal in the game. He is out of this world.

“He brings calm and a coldness to the team when you have a player like him.

“I actually think he is very underrated in terms of holding the ball up. He didn’t lose the ball once today, and that brings so much to the team.

“I know he feels proud to be part of this, playing for his country, but he also knows this is a team that works together and he needs service from his teammates.

“To score five goals in three games at a World Cup for a little country like Norway is amazing, so all credit to him.

“And no, I wouldn’t swap him for anyone.”

Haaland’s winner also helped Norway record the country’s first-ever victory in the knockout stages of a FIFA World Cup, extending what has already become the nation’s finest run at a major tournament.

Norway will now face Brazil on Sunday, with Solbakken’s side aiming to continue their impressive campaign against the five-time world champions.

Norway have never lost to Brazil in four previous meetings, but Solbakken insisted his focus remained firmly on celebrating a landmark achievement rather than looking ahead to the next challenge.

“You win a match in the knockout phase of a top tournament against a major team. Historians are better at ranking this than I am,” Solbakken said.

“But it’s the first time Norway has won a knockout game, and that is a historic performance for us.

“We will talk about Brazil later and let that rest for today, though. I wouldn’t like to go into analyzing new matches.

“We know that they are the favorites, but it is not about Brazil today, it is about us and the Ivory Coast.”

Norway will head into Sunday’s last-16 tie full of confidence after making history, while Haaland’s outstanding goalscoring form continues to establish him as one of the standout performers of the 2026 World Cup.