Norway’s Erling Haaland has established himself as the top scorer in the European Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a remarkable performance in his team’s 11-1 demolition of Moldova.
The Manchester City striker netted five goals in that single match, taking his overall tally to nine goals in just five appearances so far. Haaland now leads the scoring charts by a clear margin, sitting three goals ahead of Croatia’s Andrej Kramarić and four ahead of both his Norway teammate Thelo Aasgaard and Netherlands forward Memphis Depay.
Haaland’s extraordinary goal-scoring form has been a major boost for Norway as they aim to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup. In addition to his consistency, his ability to score multiple goals in a single match, exemplified by his five-goal haul against Moldova, demonstrates his exceptional finishing skills and sharp positioning.
Thelo Aasgaard also had an impressive outing in the same match, coming off the bench to score four goals, bringing his total to five and matching Memphis Depay, who has also scored five goals in four appearances despite being held scoreless by Poland in a recent game.
Croatia’s Andrej Kramarić, meanwhile, has scored six goals across four appearances, finding the net in all of Croatia’s wins so far. Other notable scorers include Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Edin Džeko, England’s Harry Kane, Spain’s Mikel Merino, and Czechia’s Patrik Schick, each with four goals. Merino notably scored a hat-trick during Spain’s 6-0 victory over Türkiye, while Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrović contributed a hat-trick in a 3-0 win against Andorra.
In terms of assists, Norway’s Arsenal midfielder Martin Ødegaard has been the most prolific provider in the European Qualifiers, delivering seven assists out of Norway’s 24 total goals. He is followed by Italy’s Mateo Retegui, England’s Declan Rice, Israel’s Manor Solomon, and Wales’ Sorba Thomas, each with four assists, demonstrating the increasing role of creative midfielders in supporting goal scorers.
The recent European Qualifiers also highlight the dominance of certain players who have consistently topped scoring charts in major tournaments. Historically, players such as Harry Kane, Memphis Depay, Robert Lewandowski, and Romelu Lukaku have led the scoring in both European Championships and World Cups.
Haaland’s early lead in this qualifying cycle positions him among the elite strikers of international football, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most prolific goal scorers of his generation. With several matches still to come, Norway and Haaland will be looking to maintain their scoring momentum to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
