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EPL

Erling Haaland Breaks Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Nordic International Goals Record

By WAF News Desk 3 min read
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Erling Haaland has added another major scoring record to his extraordinary career, overtaking Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the highest-scoring Nordic male player in international football.

The Manchester City striker scored twice as Norway beat Denmark 3-2 in their UEFA Nations League opener in Oslo, taking his international tally to 64 goals in just 56 appearances. Ibrahimovic scored 62 goals in 122 games for Sweden.

Haaland passes Ibrahimovic with Denmark double

Haaland entered the game level with Ibrahimovic on 62 international goals and needed only 18 minutes to move clear. His first goal put Norway 2-0 ahead before Denmark fought their way back into the contest.

With the match finely balanced, Haaland struck again in the 74th minute to make it 3-2 and ultimately secure all three points for Norway. The brace not only delivered a significant Nations League victory but pushed the 26-year-old two goals beyond Ibrahimovic’s long-standing Nordic benchmark.

Reuters reported that the result was Norway’s first competitive victory over Denmark, making Haaland’s record-breaking night even more significant for Stale Solbakken’s side.

Erling Haaland’s Norway record keeps growing

Haaland’s numbers at international level are remarkable even by his own standards. His 64 goals have come in 56 senior appearances since making his Norway debut in 2019, giving him a scoring rate of more than one goal per game.

He had already become Norway’s all-time leading scorer before passing Ibrahimovic’s wider Nordic record. The latest milestone further underlines how quickly Haaland has climbed international scoring lists despite having far fewer caps than many of the names around him.

Ibrahimovic’s 62 goals came across a 22-year Sweden career that included 122 appearances. Haaland has now exceeded that total in less than half as many matches.

What the record means for Haaland

The achievement is another major entry on a rapidly expanding list of goalscoring records for the Manchester City forward. Haaland has consistently produced exceptional scoring numbers in domestic football, the Champions League and for Norway, but his international output is particularly striking because of the speed at which he has reached each landmark.

Norway teammate Sander Berge described Haaland’s scoring output as extraordinary after the Denmark victory, while manager Solbakken pointed to the striker’s instinctive finishing as something that cannot simply be coached.

For Manchester City supporters, the timing will also be encouraging. Haaland has carried his club form into the international window and remains one of the most decisive forwards in world football.

Who is the highest-scoring Nordic international?

Among Nordic men’s national teams, Haaland now leads the list with 64 goals for Norway, ahead of Ibrahimovic’s 62 for Sweden. The Norwegian’s advantage could grow quickly given his age, scoring rate and established role as the focal point of his national side.

The overall Nordic international record remains higher in the women’s game, but Haaland now stands alone as the region’s leading male scorer.

Norway’s focus will quickly turn to the remainder of the expanded Nations League window, but Haaland’s latest record ensures the 3-2 win over Denmark will be remembered as another landmark night in his career.

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