In an interview with Spanish newspaper AS on 9/7, Eggen was asked if Haaland had reached Ronaldo Nazario's level. "Even more so," the former Norway international replied. "Beyond personal feelings or opinions, the numbers speak for themselves. Haaland's goal-scoring consistency is almost unmatched. He is a beacon, and we place our trust in him to continue progressing."

Striker Haaland (center) dribbles past center-backs Marquinhos (number 4) and Gabriel Magalhaes during Norway's 2-1 victory over Brazil in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US on 5/7. Photo: Reuters

The 25-year-old striker has been a pivotal figure in Norway's return to the World Cup after 28 years. In the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, Norway achieved a stunning upset, defeating five-time champions Brazil 2-1 to reach the quarterfinals for the first time. Haaland was instrumental, scoring two goals to bring his tournament tally to 7, matching Kylian Mbappe and trailing only Lionel Messi, who leads the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot race with 8 goals ahead of the quarterfinals.

Haaland has already netted 317 goals in 402 club appearances for Bryne, Molde, RB Salzburg, Dortmund, and Man City. In his debut season in England, he helped Man City secure a historic treble and set a Premier League record with 36 goals in a single season. He is also Norway's all-time leading scorer with 62 goals in 54 caps, surpassing Jorgen Juve's 1937 record of 33 goals in 45 matches.

Ronaldo Nazario, famously dubbed "The Phenomenon", scored 352 goals in 518 club matches for major teams including Barca, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and AC Milan. He won the Ballon d'Or two times in 1997 and 2002 but never lifted the Champions League trophy. For the national team, Ronaldo scored 62 goals in 98 appearances and was part of Brazil's World Cup-winning squads in 1994 and 2002. In 1997, his record-breaking 31 million USD transfer from Barca to Inter would be equivalent to 471,5 million USD today, adjusted for inflation by Italian market analysis firm PlayRatings.

According to Eggen, the atmosphere in Norway is filled with excitement after the team secured a spot in the quarterfinals. "Everyone is going crazy," he stated. "I am 56 years old but have never witnessed such collective joy in my country. It's insane. Before, there was only hope and expectation, but now everything feels like a dream." Eggen was part of the Norway team that achieved one of the most memorable victories in the nation's football history, beating Brazil 2-1 in the group stage of the 1998 World Cup. That Brazil squad featured stars like Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, and Bebeto.

Erling Haaland (right) shoots to score Norway's opening goal against Gabriel Magalhaes in Brazil's 1-2 loss in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup at New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US on 5/7. Photo: AP

However, the 56-year-old former center-back believes the victory against Brazil at the 2026 World Cup holds even greater significance. "Beating Brazil with Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Bebeto, and a host of other stars was special," he remarked. "But now, we can say this new achievement has surpassed that memory in the hearts of fans. Now is the time we dare to dream big." Eggen assesses that the current Norway national team is stronger than the generation that caused a sensation against Brazil in 1998. He believes that while Norway's past success was built on a tight defensive and disciplined style, the current squad boasts a superior attack, with an offensive philosophy and a proactive approach to seeking victory.

The former 56-year-old international is confident Norway can continue to surprise England in the quarterfinals on 11/7. "Our feeling now is that no opponent is invincible," he stressed. "We can definitely beat England if we handle decisive moments well. In terms of squad quality, I do not think they are superior to us. If we beat Brazil, we can also beat England."

Hong Duy (according to AS, Globo)