Erling Haaland extends Norway goal record but is short of European scoring title

• Erling Haaland fired Norway in front during their 4-1 victory over Slovenia
• Manchester City striker has netted 35 goals in 38 caps
• Only two European top scorers can match Haaland’s prolific strike rate

Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland added to his record-breaking haul of international strikes for Norway with a decisive effort against Slovenia on Thursday night.

Haaland equalled and surpassed Jorgen Juve’s long-standing high watermark of 33 goals for Norway with a brace during last month’s 3-0 victory over Slovakia. The prolific 24-year-old was again on target when travelling to Ljubljana for a UEFA Nations League fixture this week.

Antonio Nusa’s early opener for the visitors was cancelled out by a 21st-minute penalty which Slovenia’s Benjamin Sesko – a former Arsenal target hailed as the ‘new Haaland’ – converted. The real Haaland made his presence felt on the cusp of half-time, racing on to Sander Berge’s through ball before slotting a crisp finish between the open legs of Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak.

Nusa nabbed his second of the night after the interval and Jens Petter Hauge completed a 4-1 rout. Norway’s triumph was crucial, as it ensured that Haaland’s side remain in with a chance of earning promotion to the top tier of the Nations League.

While Haaland’s hopes of taking Norway to their first international tournament lie very much in the balance, there was little doubt that he would overtake Jorgen Juve as the nation’s all-time top scorer. Juve amassed his impressive tally between 1928 and 1937, but scored all 33 of his goals in his first 27 caps for the national team before he was moved from the tip of Norway’s attack into the middle of the backline for the remainder of his international career.

There is little chance of Haaland ever getting shifted from the focal point of Norway’s frontline. Beyond the confines of his homeland, the 24-year-old’s international scoring record stacks up very favourably with his European peers.

Among the all-time top scorers for every nation on the continent, only two have a better goals-per-game ratio than Haaland, who has scored 35 times in 38 caps (0.92). Denmark’s Poul Nielsen leads the way with a remarkable 52 goals in 38 games (1.37) for his country between 1910 and 1925. Jon Dahl Tomasson also amassed 52 strikes for Denmark almost a century later, but needed 112 caps to hit that figure.

Hungary’s outright top scorer Ferenc Puskas is the only other European who can challenge Haaland’s international return. The Real Madrid legend racked up 84 goals in just 85 games (0.99) for a Hungary side that reached the 1954 World Cup final.

Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, England’s Harry Kane and Portugal’s centurion Cristiano Ronaldo have all scored more international goals than Haaland, but none of these illustrious figures have been as ruthlessly consistent as City’s irrepressible striker.

Goal ratio of all-time top scorers for European nations