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Extraordinary marksman Erling Haaland earns a crack at his initial international competition next summer, thanks to his efforts with Norway to the World Cup.

Additionally, the 25-year-old Premier League striker did it in sensational style, registering 16 goals in eight World Cup qualifying matches - finding the back of the net consistently in every one of those games.

That makes him the leading goalscorer in 2026 World Cup preliminary stage in all continents.

Additionally, his squad's 4-1 win versus Italy on Sunday, where Haaland scored twice, ensures they will participating in next summer's World Cup in North America.

Haaland, speaking following the match: "I'm happy, but primarily relieved. There's a lot of pressure and things, and I experience it. But it's fun."

It will be just their fourth World Cup, and their first major tournament since Euro 2000.

The Crucial Role Has Haaland Been?

His goal tally for Norway is absolutely remarkable.

He has scored 55 goals in 48 matches for his country.

And in fact he is just the sixth footballer ever, and the first in 53 years, to register 50 finishes in less than 50 appearances.

The team's earlier leading goalscorer was Juve with 33 strikes, who held that record for nine decades.

Throughout these preliminary games he registered 16 finishes - in eight games - plus two goal contributions.

This amounts to double the goal count any other player has netted in UEFA matches.

He remains the top scorer in these qualifiers in any continent, including ones where teams play twice the number of encounters.

More than twelve months has gone by since Haaland previously didn't score in a international appearance.

Squad Contribution Alongside Haaland

However, it's not solely about one player.

Captain Martin Odegaard, 26, has greater goal contributions than any competitor in European preliminary matches - seven setups.

The Arsenal midfielder has made 67 appearances for Norway since making his debut at the age of 15.

"Combine Haaland's success with the fact that in this era we also have Martin Odegaard," said a football expert.

Our nation represents of five million inhabitants and we have both the top forward and I'd propose the premier midfielder, certainly one of the best playmakers, in the EPL.

Historical Importance of Successful Qualification

For the first time in many years Norway followers will witness the pleasure of cheering their national side in worldwide event.

Norway participated in the World Cups in 1938, 1994 and 1998, and Euro 2000.

His father, Alf Inge Haaland, participated in the 1994 competition.

Erling has previously said being better than his father was a major professional goal for him.

"Norway will never win the World Cup," Haaland Jr told an international magazine in recent months.

Dodging Historical Oversight

Haaland heading to the global tournament with Norway ensures he escapes his addition to the list of great players who missed World Cup action.

Three golden ball recipients didn't succeed to qualify for the World Cup.

The African icon, who secured titles with multiple European clubs, played for Liberia - who didn't make it to a World Cup.

Famous United forward the footballing genius, considered by many as one of football's greatest players, was a Northern Irish representative during the sixties and seventies when they couldn't secure qualification.

Los Blancos icon Alfredo di Stefano represented three countries - Spain, Argentina and Colombia - but didn't make it to a World Cup with either country.