DALLAS — Norway’s coach, Stale Solbakken, has hailed Erling Haaland as the “greatest goal scorer in the world” and expressed that he wouldn’t trade him for anyone. This statement came after the Norwegian forward netted a late winner against Ivory Coast, securing a spot in the World Cup round of 16 against Brazil.
At just 25 years old, Haaland has now scored five goals in three World Cup matches, placing him just behind Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.
His winning goal, which clinched a 2-1 victory in Dallas, maintained Haaland’s streak of scoring in all of Norway’s competitive matches since October 2024—totaling 25 goals in 13 games. Solbakken emphasized that there is no one better than Haaland when it comes to finding the back of the net.
“He is unquestionably the greatest goal scorer in the world,” Solbakken asserted to reporters, adding, “Today, he wasn’t heavily involved, yet he seized the opportunity with a crucial goal. He’s truly exceptional.”
“He brings a sense of calm and composure to the team. I believe he is underrated when it comes to holding up play; he didn’t lose possession at all today, which is incredibly valuable for the team.”
“Haaland takes pride in representing his country, but he also understands that success requires teamwork and delivery from his teammates. Scoring five goals in three World Cup matches for a nation as small as Norway is remarkable, so all credit is due to him.”
“And no, I would not trade him for anyone.”
Norge will take on Brazil on Sunday, having never lost to the five-time World Cup champions in their previous four encounters. However, Solbakken stated he wouldn’t shift his focus to Brazil until reflecting on Norway’s historic victory against Ivory Coast—this being Norway’s first knockout win at a World Cup.
“Winning a knockout match in a major tournament against a leading team is significant, but I leave that type of ranking to historians,” Solbakken remarked. “Today marks Norway’s first knockout victory, a historic achievement for us.”
“We will discuss Brazil later; for now, it is essential to appreciate our triumph over Ivory Coast.”