Erling Haaland Joins Elite Group of World Cup Strikers with Record-Breaking Debut Norway’s return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence was marked by a historic performance from Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, who became the fourth player to score twice on their World Cup debut in just four days. The 25-year-old striker’s two goals in Norway’s 4-1 victory over Iraq on Tuesday cemented his place in the tournament’s record books, joining a select group of players who achieved the feat in rapid succession. Haaland’s goals came within the first 29 minutes of the match, as he tapped in a cross from the right flank to open the scoring. He then capitalized on a defensive lapse by Iraq, outpacing a hesitant defender to double Norway’s lead just before halftime. The goals marked his first World Cup appearances, as Norway, making their debut since 1998, faced a team that had never reached the tournament. The streak of record-breaking debuts began on Friday with Folarin Balogun, the U.S. forward who scored twice in a 3-0 win over Paraguay. Balogun’s performance set the stage for a remarkable sequence of events, as Sweden’s Yasin Ayari followed suit on Sunday, netting twice in his first World Cup match against Ghana. New Zealand’s Elijah Just completed the quartet on Monday, scoring twice in a 3-1 win over South Korea. Haaland’s contribution on Tuesday brought the total to four players achieving the feat in a span of four days. Despite his rapid ascent, Haaland remained modest when asked about his status as the world’s best goalscorer. Speaking to ESPN after the match, he stated, “I would say I’m up there,” while acknowledging that his club totals for the season were surpassed by players like Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé.#folarin_balogun #erling_haaland #manchester_city #norway #u_s_federation
