Erling Haaland's Comment on Kylian Mbappe Shows Pure Class
Erling Haaland's World Cup debut was explosive just as many had expected. The Norwegian forward had a stellar performance in Boston Stadium, which earned praise from his fellow countrymen. However, Haaland had two other names in mind when he was asked about the current best goal scorers.
After qualifying for the first World Cup since 1998, Norway won their opening Group I match convincingly with a 4-1 win over Iraq. Haaland managed to find the back of the net twice on his debut on the biggest stage. But beyond the scoreline, it was Haaland's post-game comments that drew the spotlight.
Norway coach Stale Solbakken did not hold back in praise, calling the 25-year-old forward "the best goalscorer in the world" after the match. Teammates Sander Berge and Patrick Berg also expressed admiration for his impact, pointing to his relentless finishing and presence in the box. However, Haaland rejected the label and handed it to his rival, Kylian Mbappe.
Humble Haaland pic.twitter.com/Cz6U8b22Qp
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 17, 2026
"(Best) goalscorer? I would say I'm up there. I don't think I scored the most goals this season, so statistically no. Harry Kane and Mbappe scored more goals than me and that's the reality", he said. Haaland remained humble despite winning his third Premier League Golden Boot earlier this year. The Manchester City striker scored 37 goals across all competitions in the 2025-26 season, including 27 in the Premier League and eight in the UEFA Champions League.
He added two more to his campaign after scoring on his World Cup debut. The brace against Iraq were his 56th and 57th goals for Norway, extending his lead as the nation's all-time top scorer. Meanwhile, Mbappe registered 42 combined goals for Real Madrid and France, including 25 in La Liga and 15 in the Champions League, where he finished as the competition's top scorer.
Kane, in the meantime, was in a league of his own. The England captain delivered a staggering 64-goal campaign, including 36 in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich, his most productive season yet. The three forwards have been among the best No. 9s in recent soccer history. The Haaland–Mbappe rivalry is also frequently compared to the era of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
That comparison is set to gain another chapter soon. Norway and France are scheduled to meet on June 26 in their final Group I fixture, a clash that will bring Haaland and Mbappe head-to-head on the World Cup stage. Perhaps who is the better scorer between the two can be debated depending on who performs in the matchup.
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This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 9:30 AM.