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This combo of photo shows, France\u2019s Kylian Mbappe, left, Argentina\u2019s Lionel Messi, center, and Norway\u2019s Erling Haaland in motion in the course of the World Cup soccer tournament, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo\/Derik Hamilton, left, Ashley Landis, and Pamela Smith)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
EAST RUTHERFORD, Latest Jersey \u2014 After Lionel Messi scored two goals to set the World Cup record and Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 kept pace within the profession chase, Erling Haaland delivered one other dazzling performance on a showcase day for the tournament\u2019s top stars.<\/p>\n
Haaland scored twice for Norway in the primary quarter-hour of the second half of a 3-2 win over Senegal on Monday night, making up for clanking a shot off the post and getting denied on a header just before halftime. His performance got here hours after Messi scored two for Argentina and Mbapp\u00e9 did the identical for France.<\/p>\n
Teammate Kristian Thorstvedt called Haaland a big-game player who lives for these moments. Roughly a month away from his twenty sixth birthday, Haaland is showing he can sustain with a few of football\u2019s more experienced stars while playing on a team without the identical pedigree or championship history.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe’s the very best striker,\u201d coach St\u00e5le Solbakken said through an interpreter. \u201cHe shouldn’t be playing for France or Argentina. He scores for Norway.\u201d<\/p>\n
The three have combined to attain 13 goals within the World Cup: five for Messi and 4 each for Mbapp\u00e9 and Haaland within the race for the Golden Boot, which Iraq coach Graham Arnold predicted can be a superb competition between them.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s easier to win the Golden Boot whenever you play for France and Argentina,\u201d Solbakken said. \u201cBut we\u2019ll try to present Erling more games and more assist in the subsequent games.\u201d<\/p>\n
Messi became the World Cup\u2019s profession scoring leader with 18 goals when he and Argentina beat Austria in Arlington, Texas. Mbapp\u00e9 is now at 16, tied with former record holder Miroslav Klose, after he and France beat Iraq 3-0 in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
Playing in his first World Cup, Haaland is at 4. Norway last qualified in 1998 \u2014 two years before he was born.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s be completely happy, each Norwegian on the planet,\u201d Haaland said. \u201cI\u2019m a part of something special. Norway\u2019s a part of something special. We\u2019re making history.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 6-foot-5 Manchester City striker has now scored in 12 consecutive competitive matches for Norway. He has 24 goals over that stretch, and the last time Haaland didn’t rating for Norway in a game that mattered was Oct. 13, 2024.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s on fire,\u201d Solbakken said. \u201cI\u2019m very completely happy for him that he can rating on the most important stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Haaland had the fewest touches of anyone on either team in the primary half, getting guarded tightly by an opponent that knew just how essential it was to contain him. Still, Solbakken identified that Haaland missed an open net and \u201ccould have scored even 4.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s probably the greatest strikers on this planet,\u201d Senegal\u2019s Ismail Jakobs said. \u201cWe used a part of the sport making some things very difficult to start out with (for him), as you might see.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then Haaland found his footing on a wet surface on the Meadowlands that had been deluged by rain.<\/p>\n
He scored his first goal on a 4-on-2 rush, putting behind him the frustration from earlier. After getting his second by banking a right-footed shot off the crossbar and in, Haaland held his left hand as much as his left ear to encourage cheers of a giant contingent of red-clad fans who chanted, \u201cNor-ge! Nor-ge!\u201d and performed their signature Viking rowing celebration within the stands.<\/p>\n
Asked how he was doing it, Haaland struggled to give you an evidence.<\/p>\n