Quicker than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo! How Norway's Erling Haaland made history with FIFA World Cup last-32 winner against Cote d'Ivoire

React to this story

Erling Haaland scored the winning goal as Norway booked their spot in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup with a 2-1 victory over Cote d'Ivoire on Tuesday, with the Manchester City striker writing himself into the history books once again.

'It's my speciality to score goals' - Haaland

Video credit: SNTV

Haaland tapped home from close range in the 86th minute with his fifth goal of the 2026 World Cup to seal the victory in Dallas.

The 25-year-old's record for Norway is quite remarkable, with the goal against Cote d'Ivoire his 60th for the national side in just 53 appearances.

It means Haaland reached the 60-goal mark in 69 fewer games than Lionel Messi, and 77 fewer than Cristiano Ronaldo, per The Athletic.

World Cup

Figo blasts 'deceitful' Infantino and calls for FIFA president to resign

5 hours ago

He also became the fastest player in men's football history to reach that mark for an international side.

"It's nice to see that it means so much to all of Norway," said Haaland, per FIFA's official website.

"I think this will change Norway forever. I feel this is something that binds us a little extra together, it's simply touching to see."

His goal against Cote d'Ivoire also continues his recent rich vein of form that has seen him now score in each of his last 13 competitive internationals for Norway, netting 25 goals in this run.

After goals in Norway's opening two group games, Haaland also became only the third player to score in each of their first three appearances at the World Cup, having been rested for his side's final group match against France.

Tuesday's game started perfectly for Norway when Antonio Nusa curled in a beautiful effort to open the scoring in the 39th minute.

Norway captain Martin Odegaard provided the assist for Nusa's goal, becoming the third player since 1966 to provide an assist in each of his first three World Cup appearances, after Igor Belanov for USSR in 1986 and Michael Ballack for Germany in 2002, per Opta.

Although Cote d'Ivoire pushed for an equaliser, Norway had the chances to double their lead and put the game to bed, but some wasteful finishing kept their lead at just one goal.

Manchester United's Amad Diallo made Norway rue their mistakes in the 74th minute after coming off the bench, jinking past a few defenders before smashing home to equalise.

But just when it looked like the game might be heading to extra-time, up stepped Haaland.

He had been anonymous for most of the game, but an inch-perfect pass from Oscar Bobb set free Patrick Berg, who squared it to Haaland to tap home.

It was not his most clean finish - there was a brief moment of worry where he thought Yahia Fofana might keep it out - but it trickled over the line to spark jubilant celebrations.

The goal is Haaland's fifth at this year's tournament, taking him to second in the goalscoring charts in North America.

He sits just one behind Argentina's Messi and France's Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot, with Vinicius Junior and Ousmane Dembele both on four.

As they had after their second group game against Senegal, Norway's players joined their fans in celebrating the victory with their now-famous 'Viking Row' chant, with Odegaard orchestrating on the drum.

Solbakken: Norway 'have taken USA by storm'

Stale Solbakken, Norway's head coach, said the victory was "deserved" for his side, while admitting that he was "suffering" towards the end of the match.

"If I survive this, I will survive everything," he said. "The fact that we are able to come back is perhaps what I am most proud of. It has been 28 years since we last participated. We have taken on the USA, and won three out of four games. Our supporters have taken the USA by storm.

"It’s a kind of suffering you probably can’t get anywhere else, [and] a feeling that you simply can’t get from any other match.

"It was a deserved win. But I feel for their coach - the margins were slim."

Norway now face a stern test in the last 16, as they travel to New York New Jersey to take on Brazil, who reached this stage by beating Japan on Monday.

Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this.

Stream the Premier League, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

World Cup