"My specialty is scoring goals. I'm simply very good at it and quite lucky too," Haaland once said after scoring a brace against Senegal at the 2026 World Cup.

The statistics show the 26-year-old striker is not exaggerating. On 24/9, Haaland scored a brace to help Norway defeat Denmark 3-2 in the opening match of Nations League Group A4. This achievement brought his total to 64 goals in just 56 matches for the national team.

"It's crazy," midfielder Sander Berge commented about his teammate. "After years of watching him score again and again, you understand that Haaland belongs among the best. His statistics are unbelievable." Kristoffer Ajer even called Haaland the best player in the world.

Haaland celebrates a goal in Norway's 3-2 victory over Denmark in the opening match of UEFA Nations League Group A4, at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, Norway, on the evening of 24/9. Photo: *Reuters*.

The brace against Denmark also extended another Haaland record. He is the first player to reach 20 goals in the Nations League and currently leads the competition's all-time scoring with 21 goals. The Nations League was also the stage where Haaland opened his goal-scoring account for Norway.

Haaland debuted for the national team on 5/9/2019, playing 66 minutes against Malta but not scoring. Nearly a year later, on 4/9/2020, the striker scored his first goal against Austria. In the very next match, against Northern Ireland, he scored a brace.

Since then, Haaland quickly surpassed famous Norwegian football strikers. With 64 goals, he is far ahead of the second-highest scorer for the national team, Jorgen Juve, who had 33 goals in 45 matches. Alexander Sorloth currently has 26 goals, while names like John Carew and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored 24 and 23 goals, respectively.

Top goal scorers in Norway national team history. Graphic: Hong Duy (AI assisted).

Haaland's recent form is even more impressive. The striker, born in 2000, has scored 9 goals in his last 7 matches for Norway, including 7 goals at the World Cup and a brace against Denmark.

Coach Stale Solbakken believes his player's goal-scoring ability does not solely come from physique or training. "He has excellent physical qualities and is contributing to the team's play better than ever," he said. "But Haaland possesses something that cannot be trained. It cannot be explained or learned. He was born with that instinct."

Denmark coach Brian Riemer viewed the issue from an opponent's perspective. "There are times when Haaland almost disappears from the game, and you don't even notice," he said. "But give him the slightest chance, and you'll concede a goal." This ability is precisely what makes Haaland dangerous. He may not frequently appear in link-up play, but he only needs a gap or a moment of defensive lapse from the opponent to decide a match.

Hong Duy (*according to Marca*)