Erling Haaland grabbed attention both on and off the pitch after Norway’s stunning 2-1 win over Brazil in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16. Moments after scoring twice to send his country into its first-ever World Cup quarterfinal, Haaland shared a smiling locker-room selfie on Instagram. The post, captioned “Well well well” with a laughing emoji, reportedly crossed one million likes in just 12 minutes. He later added, “Worth the 28-year wait,” marking Norway’s return to the World Cup after nearly three decades. The viral selfie quickly became one of the biggest talking points of the tournament, reflecting both the shock of Brazil’s exit and the scale of Norway’s historic achievement.
Haaland decided the contest with two late goals that changed the game. He headed Norway in front in the 79th minute before sealing the victory with a low finish in the 90th minute. Goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland also played a key role by saving Bruno Guimarães’ early penalty. Brazil pulled one back through Neymar from the spot deep into stoppage time, but Norway held on for a famous 2-1 victory.
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Erling Haaland’s Late Double Sends Norway Into First-Ever World Cup Quarterfinal
Norway pulled off one of the most remarkable feats in its football history by knocking out Brazil, the five-time world champions. In a match that was tightly contested, Haaland rose to the occasion when it mattered most. He scored his first goal thanks to a well-placed cross from Andreas Schjelderup, and just before the final whistle, he netted his second after another slick play involving the substitute. This late double not only showcased Haaland’s knack for performing on the biggest stage but also brought his tournament tally to seven goals, putting him right in the mix for the Golden Boot.
But Norway’s triumph wasn’t just about the goals. Goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland played a crucial role, making a stunning penalty save against Bruno Guimarães in the 14th minute that kept his team in the game. He also thwarted Endrick during Brazil’s desperate late attempts to equalize. The only goal he let in was a stoppage-time penalty from Neymar, which trimmed the scoreline but didn’t alter the final result. Neymar later announced that this match would mark the end of his international career with Brazil.
This victory is a huge milestone for Norway. The men’s team had never made it to a World Cup quarterfinal before and hadn’t even qualified for the tournament since 1998. On the flip side, Brazil faced its earliest World Cup exit since 1990, breaking a streak of eight consecutive quarterfinal appearances. Now, Norway is set to take on England in the quarterfinals on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida.
