Erling Haaland is officially conquering the world stage, firing Norway into a historic quarter-final clash with England after sinking Brazil. Photo: AFP
For years, Erling Haaland's critics had one familiar refrain. He could score for fun in the Premier League and Uefa Champions League, but until he did it at a major international tournament, there would always be a question mark hanging over his place among football's greatest strikers.
Four matches into his World Cup debut, that argument has all but disappeared.
Haaland's late brace to sink five-time champions Brazil and send Norway into their first World Cup quarter-final was another reminder that the Manchester City striker is as ruthless on football's biggest stage as he is in club football. With seven goals, he sits alongside Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane atop the Golden Boot standings.
The Brazil brace did more than book Norway's place in the quarter-finals. It took Haaland to 62 international goals in just 54 appearances, after he became the fastest player ever to reach the 60-goal mark during the previous match against Ivory Coast.
