Big upset in FIFA World Cup 2026! Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway defeated Brazil 2-1 and showed them the way out. With this defeat, Neymar retired from international football. Norway has reached the quarter-finals.
In the Round of 16 match of the FIFA World Cup 2026, thanks to two goals scored by Erling Haaland in the second half, Norway surprised Brazil by defeating them 2-1 and eliminated Carlo Ancelotti’s team from the tournament.
According to ESPN, with these two goals, Hollande’s tally of goals in the 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached seven, which is equal to the most goals scored by any player in his World Cup debut since Poland’s Grzegorz Lato scored seven goals in 1974. Haaland has now become the joint top scorer along with France’s Kylian Mbappe and Argentina’s legend Lionel Messi in the FIFA World Cup 2026 with seven goals each. Additionally, this is the first time in World Cup history that three different players have scored seven or more goals in the same edition.
Holland broke many big records
According to ESPN, Haaland has now scored more goals (7) in his FIFA World Cup debut than the total goals scored (6) by Lionel Messi (1), Kylian Mbappe (4) and Cristiano Ronaldo (1) in the tournament debut. It was Holland’s third multi-goal game at this World Cup, which is a tie for third in the same edition. Only Just Fontaine (4 in 1958) and Sándor Kocsis (4 in 1954) have had more multi-goal games. He also became the first player to score two goals against Brazil in a World Cup match since Toni Kroos and Andre Schurrle during Germany’s 7–1 semi-final win in 2014.
Haaland also became the fourth player to score four match-winning goals in a single FIFA World Cup. Only Grzegorz Lato (5) has scored more goals, while Salvatore Schillacchi and Gerd Müller also finished with four goals each.
Haaland is scoring a goal every 14 touches this tournament, the lowest ratio for any player who has scored three or more goals in a single World Cup edition in the last 60 years. Haaland has scored seven goals on just 18 shots at the 2026 World Cup, giving him a conversion rate of 39%. This is the best finishing efficiency (with 15 or more shots) in a single World Cup since Gary Lineker in 1986, who had six goals on 15 shots, a rate of 40%.
Brazil’s shameful record and Neymar’s retirement
With this win, Norway is the only team among the 91 nations that Brazil has faced and never defeated them. Brazil has had to face two draws and three defeats in five matches. Speaking of Brazil, since winning the final against Germany in 2002, they have been eliminated in each of their last six FIFA World Cup knockout matches against European teams.
Following this defeat, Brazil will face its longest World Cup title drought since winning its first title in 1958, which will reach 28 years by 2030. This is the first time since 1990 that they have failed to reach the World Cup quarter-finals. Neymar, who announced his retirement from international football after the defeat against Norway, became only the second Brazilian male player after Pelé to score in four different World Cups.
Such was the thrill of the match
Coming to the match, Norway put up a disciplined and brilliant performance to stun one of the tournament favourites. Brazil dominated the match for most of the match and had a great chance to take the lead when Christopher Ajer was penalized for a foul on Matheus Cunha inside the box. However, goalkeeper Orjan Nyland made a brilliant save from Bruno Guimarães from the penalty spot to keep the score level.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side continued to press after the break, but Nyland repeatedly thwarted Brazilian attacks as Norway took control late in the contest. Andreas Schjelderup, who came as a substitute, changed the course of the game as soon as he entered the field and gave a perfect cross for Holland in the 79th minute, on which Holland scored with a header to give Norway the lead.
Moments later, the prolific striker scored again, doubling the lead with a calm left-footed finish past Alisson Becker. Neymar converted a penalty in stoppage-time after Leo Ostigaard was awarded a penalty for a foul on Casemiro, but it proved to be only a consolation goal as Brazil were eliminated from the tournament.
The win extended Norway’s unbeaten record against Brazil to five matches and secured a historic spot in the quarter-finals, where Ståle Solbakken’s team will face England. (ANI)
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