Erling Haaland walked into the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of the best strikers on the planet. Seven goals in five matches will do that.
Norway’s towering forward has turned what was supposed to be a quiet Nordic campaign into one of the most compelling storylines of a tournament co-hosted on US soil.
The Viking conquers America
Norway’s unexpected run to the quarterfinals, where they faced England, marked a historic achievement for a country not exactly known for World Cup heroics. Haaland was the engine behind it, notching braces against Brazil in what became one of the tournament’s most-replayed sequences.
Haaland’s self-deprecating humor and his viral “Viking Row” celebration, where he mimes rowing a longship with teammates, have turned him into the kind of athlete who transcends his sport. Google even added an Easter egg for the celebration.
