Norway manager Stale Solbakken has rated Erling Haaland as the greatest goalscorer in the world. Haaland scored the match-winning goal for his national team in the round of 32 against Ivory Coast on Tuesday. 

At 1-1 apiece, in the 86th minute, Patrick Berg assisted Haaland and all the Manchester City striker had to do was just tap the ball into the goal. Haaland was at the right place at the right time and took his team to the round of 16 after keeping his calm.

“I think he’s the greatest goalscorer in the world,” Solbakken said.

“You know that today, he wasn’t that much involved but he scored the winning goal again.”

Solbakken also pointed to something that often gets overlooked.

“He is really under-rated in terms of keeping the ball up. He didn’t lose one ball today.”

Meanwhile, Haaland scored his fifth goal of the ongoing FIFA World Cup. This was his 60th goal in 53 appearances for Norway and despite all the personal records, Haaland is focused on the bigger picture, which is to help his team win at all cost.

“It’s insane,” Haaland said. “Twenty-eight years since the last time,” he added.

“It’s huge, it’s crazy. It’s great to see that it means so much to the whole of Norway. I think this will change Norway forever. I feel a kind of unity. It’s touching to see.”

Norway’s next challenge would be five-time champions Brazil and Haaland said it would be insane to play against them. 

“Playing against Brazil in the round of 16 is completely insane,” Haaland said.

“We just have to be happy and say that this is a journey.”