Brazil came to the FIFA World Cup 2026 dreaming of another title. Instead, they ran into football's biggest nightmare — Erling Haaland.The Manchester City superstar produced another devastating masterclass, scoring twice in the closing minutes as Norway stunned Brazil 2-1 to book their place in the quarter-finals. Haaland struck in the 79th and 90th minutes in East Rutherford, New Jersey, taking his tournament tally to seven goals — level with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot.Also Read: FIFA knockout scheduleBut who exactly is the towering striker fans have nicknamed "The Viking"?Interesting facts about Erling HaalandBorn in England, chose Norway: Haaland was born in Leeds, England, on July 21, 2000, while his father Alf-Inge Haaland played for Leeds United. Despite being eligible to represent England, he chose to play for Norway, saying, "I'm Norwegian and I'm proud of it."Nine goals in one FIFA match: At the 2019 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, Haaland scored an incredible nine goals in Norway's 12-0 demolition of Honduras. Those were his only goals of the tournament, yet he still finished as the competition's top scorer.— ErlingHaaland (@ErlingHaaland) Norway's greatest goalscorer: Haaland broke Jørgen Juve's international scoring record, which had stood for nearly 90 years, to become Norway's all-time leading scorer.A record-breaker since childhood: Long before becoming a football sensation, Haaland set a world record for the standing broad jump by a five-year-old with a leap of 1.63 metres—a mark that still stands.Could have joined Manchester United: Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær twice recommended signing Haaland, but the club passed on the opportunity. He eventually joined Borussia Dortmund before moving to Manchester City.From rapper to goal machine: Before becoming a global football icon, Haaland was part of a rap group called Flow Kingz with fellow Norwegian players. Their song Kygo Jo has racked up millions of views online.Champions League as an alarm clock: Haaland once revealed that the UEFA Champions League anthem was his morning alarm tone because it motivated him every day.Yoga powers his celebration: His trademark lotus pose after scoring is inspired by his love of meditation and yoga, which he says help him stay calm under pressure.Football runs in the family: His father, Alf-Inge Haaland, played professionally for Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Manchester City, while his mother, Gry Marita Braut, was a national heptathlon champion in Norway.Built like a machine: Standing 1.94 metres tall, Haaland is known for his strict diet, recovery routines, sleep discipline and explosive athleticism—earning nicknames such as "The Cyborg" and "The Machine."