Erling Haaland has become Norway’s all-time leading goalscorer after netting his 34th international goal during a Nations League match against Slovenia. The Manchester City striker broke Jorgen Juve’s 90-year-old record at the age of 24, achieving the feat in just 36 appearances for his country.
Haaland equalled Juve’s total of 33 goals early in the game and then took the outright record with a second-half strike. His powerful finish from 16 yards through Jan Oblak’s legs sealed his place in Norwegian football history.
Jorgen Juve, who set the previous record in the 1920s and ’30s, had reached his tally in 27 games, later moving to centre-back and finishing his international career with 45 caps. Juve’s mark stood for nearly a century until Haaland’s remarkable rise, with the striker captaining Norway in the absence of Martin Odegaard.
Though Haaland’s 34 goals may seem modest compared to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo’s 132 or Lionel Messi’s 109 international strikes, his achievement is monumental for Norway. Scotland’s joint top-scorers Kenny Dalglish and Denis Law finished their careers with 30 goals each, showing how Haaland’s record compares with those of smaller footballing nations.
Haaland, known for his dynamic play and prolific scoring, took to social media after the match, posting a photo with the ball under his shirt and an emoji hinting that his partner Isabel might be pregnant. The cryptic post quickly sparked speculation about the striker’s personal life, adding to the celebrations surrounding his record-breaking performance.
Haaland’s Norway teammate Alexander Sorloth also found the back of the net, contributing to their 2-0 victory over Slovenia. Haaland finished the match with an astonishing 10 shots, seven of which were on target, further demonstrating his dominance on the pitch.
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