After Norway’s 4-1 win against Iraq in the ongoing FIFA World Cup, the team’s coach, Stale Solbakken, tipped Erling Haaland as the “best goalscorer in the world.” However, the Manchester City striker played down the praise, admitting Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé have scored more goals than him.
While Kane scored 36 goals in 31 matches for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, Mbappe scored 25 goals in 31 matches for Real Madrid in LaLiga. Furthermore, the French striker scored 15 goals in 11 games of the Champions League. Kane scored a total of 51 goals in as many games in the previous season.
Meanwhile, Haaland scored a brace against Iraq in his World Cup debut game to help his team get off to a winning start.
In the mixed zone post-game, Haaland was asked if he agreed with the statement of his coach.
“[Best] goalscorer? I would say I’m up there. I don’t think I scored the most goals this season, so statistically no,” Haaland explained.
Haaland scored a total of 37 goals across the 2025-2026 season — 27 in the Premier League and eight in the Champions League for Manchester City.
He added: “Harry Kane and [Kylian] Mbappé scored more goals than me and that’s the reality.”
Meanwhile, Patrick Berg backed his international teammate Haaland as the world’s top striker.
“Of course, he’s [Haaland] the best striker in world football and you can see today the way he worked for us, not just with the ball but also without the ball was magnificent. I think he really made a great game today,” Berg said.
On the other hand, Harry Kane admitted he has been in great form personally ahead of their opening clash against Croatia.
“Yeah I’d say from a personal point of view it was the best season I’ve ever had from a factual point of view of scoring a lot more goals than what I have in any other previous season which is obviously pleasing,” Kane said.
He added: “I think also just physically and mentally the way the season ended for me was obviously great. I took that into the prep cap with the boys and I know you need a lot of things to go your way at the right time and I feel it has.”
