Liam Duckstein
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Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway beat Denmark 3-2 in the Nations League on Thursday, a result that pushed the striker past Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the highest-scoring Nordic player in international football history.
A Tally Built on Efficiency
Haaland now has 64 goals in 56 caps for Norway. Ibrahimovic needed 122 matches to reach 62 for Sweden. The gap in appearances tells its own story about the kind of finisher Norway has produced.
The 26-year-old completed his double in the 74th minute, a strike that sealed Norway’s first competitive win over their neighbors.
| Player | Country | Goals | Caps |
| Erling Haaland | Norway | 64 | 56 |
| Zlatan Ibrahimovic | Sweden | 62 | 122 |
| Ronaldo (Brazil) | Brazil | 62 | – |
Norway manager Stale Solbakken tried to put the achievement into words after the final whistle.
“It is not possible to explain, nor is it possible to learn. He is born with it. It is instinct,” Solbakken said.
Haaland made his senior debut in 2019 and has since scored at a rate above 1.1 goals per game, a number that separates him from almost every forward in the modern international game.
“It’s madness,” midfielder Sander Berge said. “It’s everyday business that Haaland scores goals, so it’s reasonable that he is up there, but it’s powerful.”
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Passing Ronaldo, Chasing Schelin
Haaland also moved ahead of Brazil great Ronaldo, who finished his international career with 62 goals before retiring in 2011. The overall Nordic record still belongs to former Sweden women’s forward Lotta Schelin, who scored 88 times for her country.
Reaction in Denmark focused almost entirely on the damage Haaland caused.
“Norway has him, and they should be thankful for that on a night where his sheer ruthlessness ensured the Norwegians secured the bragging rights,” said DR analyst Michael Sten Jensen.
Danish newspaper B.T. described the hosts as having been “brutally punished by Norway’s most dangerous man.”
Hojlund’s Warning
Denmark striker Rasmus Hojlund knows the threat better than most, having faced Haaland at close range.
“Erling has a way of finding the path to the goal,” Hojlund said. “So in that sense it comes as no surprise, but at the same time it frustrates me.”
A Rematch Awaits
Denmark gets a shot at revenge when the two sides meet again on November 17, the final matchday of the Nations League group stage. Norway will arrive with their record-breaker in irresistible form, and Denmark knows exactly what stopping him requires.
Keep following TipsGG for updates on Haaland’s chase of Lotta Schelin’s overall Nordic record and full coverage of the Nations League run-in.