Erling Haaland extended his remarkable scoring run to ten consecutive matches after netting a hat-trick for Norway in their 5-0 rout of Israel on Saturday. His latest feat not only demonstrates extraordinary consistency at both club and international level, but it also sees him match Lionel Messi’s own best run of scoring in ten straight games.
The journey through this ten-game streak has been as varied as it has been prolific. Haaland’s goals have come across Premier League, Champions League, and World Cup qualifying matches. The sequence began with a goal against Brighton on 31 August and included a goal in Norway’s 1–0 win over Finland and five strikes against Moldova in the qualifying series.
He then found the net against Manchester United, Arsenal, Burnley, Monaco and Brentford before capping off the run in Oslo with his third goal of the night.
That final match, played at Ullevaal Stadion, was a statement performance. Although Haaland missed a penalty in the early stages—and even saw a retake thwarted—he responded emphatically.
He leveled the match on 27 minutes, headed in a second from a cross in the 63rd, and completed the hat-trick just nine minutes later. With that brace, he surpassed the milestone of 50 international goals in just 46 appearances—a pace unmatched by any of his peers.
The 5–0 victory not only reinforced Norway’s dominance in their World Cup qualifying group but also served as a reminder of Haaland’s unrelenting threat. In doing so, he brought his tally to 19 goals over the ten games in this streak, and 21 goals in just 12 matches across club and country this season.
Comparisons are inevitable. Before this streak, Haaland’s personal best was eight consecutive matches on the scoresheet, a mark he had already achieved twice. His current run equals Messi’s feat, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s longest streak stands at 11 games—putting the Norwegian tantalizingly close to that benchmark.
Manchester City’s staff described the feat as “sensational,” noting that in this span Haaland had already scored “a phenomenal 19 goals.” His club manager, Pep Guardiola, has repeatedly praised the striker’s consistency. Ahead of City’s earlier matches, he referred to Haaland as “incredible” and said that the team was lucky to have him.
When asked about his hunger for goals, Haaland has often spoken in straightforward terms. “When I score a goal, I feel the joy very deeply,” he once said, “but then I immediately want to score another goal.” Even in the face of stumbles like a saved penalty, his mindset seems unshaken. His resilience in Oslo showed just that.
Football analysts and fans alike are marveling at the balance Haaland is striking between efficiency and consistency. Scoring in ten consecutive fixtures across two demanding calendars—domestic and international—is rarely seen, and even more rarely executed with such regularity.
Such a run demands not only clinical finishing but also fitness, mental resilience and seamless adaptation to differing tactical challenges.
For Norway, this kind of form is a vital asset in their quest for a place at the 2026 World Cup. Haaland’s presence provides a constant focal point and a psychological edge. With two qualifying matches still to come, his form may yet help propel his country back to the world stage.
Yet, the performance in Oslo also contained echoes of Haaland’s humanity. He missed two penalties, moments that remind even the most prolific goal-scorer is fallible. But instead of letting that define the match, he rewrote the narrative. His response was emphatic: three goals and a new chapter in an already storied season.