Erling Haaland achieves what Cristiano Ronaldo still hasn’t in seven fewer World Cup games

With his goal for Norway against Ivory Coast, Erling Haaland found the net in a World Cup knockout stage match before Cristiano Ronaldo.

By Martín O’donnell

Updated on June 30, 2026 03:22PM EDT

**© Lars Baron/Getty Images**Erling Haaland celebrates his goal for Norway vs. Ivory Coast.

Erling Haaland is on fire. Building on a strong start to the 2026 World Cup group stage, the Norwegian superstar scored in his first knockout stage game on the biggest tournament, achieving the feat before Cristiano Ronaldo.

Haaland’s goal for Norway to eliminate Ivory Coast in the Round of 32 saw him score in a World Cup knockout stage fixture in seven fewer appearances than Ronaldo on the global stage.

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The Al Nassr star has played in eight World Cup knockout stage matches with Portugal but couldn’t find the net in any of those games, and couldn’t provide an assist either. With two wins, one draw (which ended in a penalty shootout win), and five losses, the tournament has been elusive for the 5x Ballon d’Or winner.

Ronaldo chases first World Cup knockout stage goal

At 41, Ronaldo will chase his first goal at a World Cup knockout stage when Portugal take on Croatia on Thursday, July 2nd. The veteran striker scored twice in the group stage, with both goals coming in Portugal’s 5-0 win over Uzbekistan in the group stage.

World Cup knockout goals:

1 — Erling Haaland
0 — Cristiano Ronaldo

Haaland has played 7 fewer matches. pic.twitter.com/yNa6J5eSKA
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) June 30, 2026

Haaland’s impressive numbers with Norway

2026 World Cup bracket updated: When and where are Brazil vs Norway playing in Round of 16?

Haaland, meanwhile, is making noise in his very first World Cup appearance. At 25, the Manchester City star scored four goals in the group stage before adding another one to his tally in the Round of 32.

Haaland now boasts an impressive 60 goals in just 53 international games, matching Kylian Mbappe’s number of goals for France in 48 fewer caps. Right now, the Norwegian striker and Lionel Messi are the only players at the 2026 World Cup with five or more goals.

Martín O’Donnell

Martin O'Donnell is a bilingual sports writer fluent in English and Spanish, currently serving as the Managing Editor of Bolavip. He began his journey with the website in February 2021, making a name for himself through comprehensive coverage of multiple sports, including NFL and soccer, with a specialty in original content and real-time reporting of major events such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League finals, and the Super Bowl. In June 2024, Martin took on the role of Subeditor, where he excelled in overseeing the publication of stories, assisting staff writers, and ensuring content quality. His prior experience includes managing social media for CONMEBOL Libertadores and Sudamericana in English and Spanish, as well as reporting on Brazilian football for Sambafoot. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and ability to capture breaking news, Martin has consistently been a valuable asset to the Bolavip team, especially during crucial sports seasons involving trades, playoffs, and finals. Now, as the Managing Editor since May 2025, Martin brings his extensive experience and keen editorial sense to lead Bolavip’s team, driving the website's growth and ensuring it remains a top source for sports news and analysis with interviews and exclusive content.