2026 World Cup could give Erling Haaland his Maradona moment
In the 1986 World Cup, a diminutive figure named Diego Maradona led his national team, Argentina, to only their second-ever title in the competition.
While football is a team sport, Maradona’s influence on his team’s victory was such that it will forever be synonymous with a player considered one of the greatest ever.
Watching Norway’s progress to the quarter-finals brought to mind Argentina’s 1986 triumph, as the Scandinavians could well have their very own inspiration in the hulking form of a certain Erling Haaland.
Top Image: Erling Haaland Morocco v Norway 7 June 2026 – Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Haaland has been sensational at World Cup 2026
Norway’s men’s national team are enjoying their best-ever run at a World Cup, as prior to the 2026 tournament, they had never made it to the last eight of the competition. It has been a truly historic run.
It was always going to be the case that Manchester City’s star striker, Erling Haaland, would play a massive role for the Scandinavians at the World Cup, and it has played out that way.
The 25-year-old bagged a brace in the round of 16 as Norway recorded a relatively comfortable 2-1 victory over South American giants Brazil.
The double took his goal tally to seven in the competition, putting him joint top of the scoring charts alongside fellow superstars Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
Haaland showed against Brazil that he was the man for the big occasion. The Selecao were favourites to progress, but Norway always had a chance of causing an upset, especially when they had one of the world’s strikers leading their front line.
In truth, Haaland was just too sharp and lethal for Brazil’s defence to contain. Anybody who has watched him on a semi-regular basis in recent seasons will not be heavily surprised by his goals or his performances.
Can he repeat what Maradona did in 1986?
It seems strange to draw comparisons between such a diminutive Argentinian and a giant Norwegian. However, there are similarities between Argentina 1986 and Norway 2026.
Both teams headed into their respective World Cups in cautiously optimistic moods. However, both teams carry the underdogs tag.
It could be argued that Argentina were already considered a football heavyweight in 1986, but they were certainly not favourites by any stretch of the imagination to lift the trophy.
Norway have very little history of success in the World Cup, and they are currently in uncharted waters in the competition. Even with Haaland’s influence, they would have been considered underdogs to win the whole competition.
There is also a comparison between the two teams without discussing their respective superstars. Both teams had a decent supporting cast. For example, Argentina had the likes of Jorge Valdano, Jorge Burruchaga and Oscar Ruggeri in defence.
Haaland’s teammates are not bad either, with the likes of Arsenal centre-midfielder Martin Odegaard and RB Leipzig winger Antonio Nusa proving influential for the Scandinavians.
There are many parallels between the two teams’ journeys, and how their star players have had a profound effect on their teams.
Next challenge is England in Miami
To have any chance of repeating the feat of the great Maradona, Haaland and his teammates must find a way to overcome England in the quarter-finals in Miami on Saturday night.
England is obviously a team that Haaland knows well, not just from his current and ex-teammates in the Three Lions squad, but also from facing most of the squad week in, week out in the Premier League.
Haaland will know their strengths and weaknesses, but players like Marc Guehi and John Stones will also have some inside information on the big Norwegian goal machine.
However, knowing about a player’s strengths and being able to stop them are two very different things. Haaland has already proven in every club competition that he is highly difficult to stop. Now he is proving it on the biggest international stage of all, the World Cup.
One big threat to Norway’s presence in the competition is England’s own world-class stars, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. The pair have delivered when their team has needed them most at this World Cup.
If Norway can keep the star pair quiet, which could be harder said than done, then they will have a chance of continuing their historic journey beyond the last eight, especially if Haaland continues in his current vein.
The Yorkshire-born striker will fancy following in the footsteps of Maradona by not only eliminating England from the World Cup at the quarter-final stage but also dragging his team to become the biggest surprise winners in the competition’s history.