Haland joins Messi, Mbappé at top of Golden Boot race

Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway shocked five-time champions Brazil 2-1 at MetLife Stadium to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history.

The lethal double not only secured a historic victory for his country but also propelled the Norwegian striker to the top of the 2026 World Cup Golden Boot standings. Haaland is now tied on seven goals alongside Argentina's Lionel Messi and France's Kylian Mbappé, intensifying the race for the tournament's top scorer award.

Haaland broke the tense deadlock in the 79th minute, rising highest to meet Andreas Schjelderup’s precise cross with a powerful header. He then doubled Norway's advantage in the final minute of normal time, unleashing a low, clinical strike from outside the penalty area that left the Brazilian defense helpless.

Neymar converted a penalty deep into stoppage time for Brazil, but it proved to be a mere consolation as the South American giants were dumped out of the competition.

The crucial brace takes Haaland’s remarkable international tally to 62 goals for Norway, who are competing in their first World Cup finals since 1998. Having staged one of the biggest upsets of the tournament by eliminating the heavily favored Brazilians, Norway will now face either England or Mexico in the quarter-finals on 11 July.