Haaland scores twice on World Cup debut as Ibrahimović says he's 'getting close to Zlatan'

Erling Haaland ended his wait for a World Cup appearance in emphatic fashion, scoring twice as Norway dismantled Iraq 4-1 on Tuesday to open their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign. The 25-year-old, who had never featured in a World Cup match before this tournament, delivered the kind of performance that silenced any lingering doubts about his readiness for football’s biggest stage.

The result drew immediate praise from an unlikely source. Zlatan Ibrahimović, who had ranked Haaland only fifth on his pre-tournament ‘King of the Jungle’ list and said the Norwegian still had work to do to “reach the freak of nature”, revised his assessment sharply after the final whistle.

“It’s a great start. This was what we wanted and we got it. This was all about Haaland,” Ibrahimović said. “He might not get the assist for the last goal, but he was there and created a chance. The stars showed up and made him a lion today. I might move him up my ‘King of the Jungle’ list. He’s getting close to Zlatan. So, we’re happy with his performance today.”

The brace made Haaland one of six players to score twice in this World Cup, joining France’s Kylian Mbappé among others. His FotMob player rating of 9.17 was the highest recorded by any player at the 2026 tournament so far, edging past Mbappé’s 9.02 from France’s 3-1 win over Senegal.

The numbers behind Haaland’s international record underline just how dominant he has become for Norway. He has now scored in 33 of his 51 caps, and Norway have won all 14 matches in which he has found the net across all competitions. They are also an unblemished 16-0-0 in games where he scores more than once.

Tuesday’s goals extended his run to 11 consecutive competitive internationals with a goal — a streak that now spans 22 strikes. Since the start of 2023, he has scored in 17 of his 20 official Norway appearances, netting 30 times. His 16 goals during World Cup qualifying led all players globally, and across qualifying and this opening match he has averaged two goals per game over nine outings.

At club level, the scale of Haaland’s output is equally staggering. He has scored in 162 of his 198 appearances for Manchester City and has claimed the Premier League Golden Boot in three of his first four seasons at the club. His 36-goal haul in the 2022-23 season remains the highest single-season total in Premier League history.