Erling Haaland Still Rates Kane and Mbappé Above Himself After World Cup Brace
2026-06-17
Erling Haaland made a dream start to his first-ever FIFA World Cup, scoring twice as Norway cruised to a 4-1 victory over Iraq. But despite the perfect debut, the Manchester City striker insists he still has work to do before he can call himself the world's best goalscorer.
Following Norway's opening win, head coach Ståle Solbakken described Haaland as "the best goalscorer in the world." The praise was hardly surprising after another clinical performance from the 25-year-old, yet Haaland responded with characteristic humility.
Haaland: "I'm Up There, But the Numbers Don't Lie"
Asked whether he agreed with Solbakken's assessment, Haaland chose statistics over emotion.
"As a goalscorer, I'd say I'm up there," he said. "But I didn't score the most goals this season, so statistically the answer is no."
Instead, Haaland pointed to two players he believes finished ahead of him.
"Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé scored more goals than me, and that's the reality."
It was a refreshingly honest answer from one of football's biggest stars.
Kane and Mbappé Set the Benchmark
Haaland ended the 2025-26 season with 37 goals before arriving at the World Cup. His tally included:
- 27 Premier League goals for Manchester City
- 8 UEFA Champions League goals
- 2 goals in Norway's World Cup opener against Iraq
Those are elite numbers by any standard, but they still trail the remarkable campaigns produced by Kane and Mbappé.
Kylian Mbappé enjoyed another prolific season for Real Madrid, finishing with more than forty goals across all competitions. He once again topped the LaLiga scoring charts while also leading the UEFA Champions League in goals before adding to his tally at the World Cup.
Harry Kane raised the bar even higher.
The England captain scored 51 goals in 51 appearances, including an extraordinary Bundesliga campaign that earned him another Golden Boot. His scoring consistency throughout the season helped Bayern Munich produce one of their strongest domestic campaigns in recent years.
Speaking before England's World Cup opener, Kane reflected on what he considered the best season of his career.
"From a personal perspective, it's probably the best season I've ever had. I scored more goals than ever before, and physically and mentally I finished the season feeling really strong."
Norway Believe Haaland Is Number One
While Haaland remains modest, his teammates have no doubts.
Midfielder Patrick Berg believes the Manchester City striker is already the finest center-forward in world football.
"Of course he's the best striker in the world. Today you saw everything—not only his finishing, but also his work without the ball. He gave everything for the team."
Sander Berge offered an equally enthusiastic assessment after the match.
"He played like an animal today."
Those comments reflect what Norway have witnessed for years. Beyond the goals, Haaland's relentless pressing, physical presence, and movement continue to make him the focal point of Solbakken's attack.
A Dream World Cup Beginning
Regardless of individual rankings, Haaland's focus remains firmly on Norway's World Cup campaign.
The tournament marks his first appearance at a major international competition after Norway failed to qualify for both the 2022 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2024.
His long-awaited debut could hardly have gone better.
Haaland scored twice against Iraq, immediately reminding the football world why he is regarded as one of the game's deadliest finishers. Norway's convincing victory also strengthened their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds for the first time in nearly three decades.
For Haaland, finally stepping onto the World Cup stage is every bit as meaningful as adding another goal to his remarkable career total.
Bigger Tests Lie Ahead
Norway's journey is only just beginning.
Their next challenge comes against Senegal at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey before a blockbuster group-stage clash with France.
Those matches will provide a much clearer indication of Norway's ambitions—and another opportunity for Haaland to strengthen his case among football's elite goalscorers.
Whether or not he currently ranks above Kane and Mbappé is open to debate.
What isn't in doubt is that Haaland has already made a memorable World Cup entrance, and if Norway continue their impressive run, that conversation may look very different by the end of the tournament.