Career Timeline of Erling Haaland: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Erling Haaland made an impact.

Erling Braut Haaland is a Norwegian professional footballer renowned for his exceptional skills as a striker. Currently playing for Manchester City in the Premier League and the Norway national team, he is widely regarded as one of the best players globally and arguably the greatest Norwegian player of all time. His key attributes include remarkable speed, strength, strategic positioning, and clinical finishing abilities within the penalty box.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

1977: Becomes first male European player to record five goals in a World Cup qualifier since Hans Krankl

On 9 September 2025, Haaland scored five goals and assisted a further two in an 11–1 win over Moldova, becoming the first male European player to record five goals in a World Cup qualifier since Hans Krankl in 1977.

October 2015: Debut for Bryne 2

On 5 October 2015, Erling Haaland debuted for Bryne 2, Bryne's reserve team, in a 1–0 home loss against Start reserves. Five days later he scored his first goal on senior level against Hei in a 2–1 defeat away to Heistad.

May 2016: First start with Bryne FK

In May 2016, Erling Haaland got his first start with Bryne FK in a second-tier 1. divisjon match against Ranheim on 12 May, after Gaute Larsen was sacked and youth coach Berntsen was promoted to caretaker manager.

September 2016: Scored first career hat-trick

On 19 September 2016, Erling Haaland, aged 16 and 2 months, scored his first career hat-trick in an away 5–3 win over Vard Haugesund 2 in the Group 6 of the Norwegian fourth tier.

February 2017: Signed with Molde

On 1 February 2017, Molde announced the signing of 16-year-old Erling Haaland.

August 2017: Scored first league goal for Molde

On 6 August 2017, Erling Haaland scored the winner for Molde in the 77th minute against Tromsø IL, which was his first goal in the league.

March 2018: Hat-trick against Scotland

In March 2018, while with the Norway under-19 side, Haaland scored a hat-trick against Scotland in a 5–4 victory.

July 2018: Scored against Italy

In July 2018, Haaland scored a penalty against Italy in a 1–1 draw during the tournament finals.

July 2018: Scored four goals against Brann

On 1 July 2018, Erling Haaland scored four goals in the opening 21 minutes against Brann, securing his team a 4–0 victory.

August 2018: Signed with Red Bull Salzburg

On 19 August 2018, Red Bull Salzburg announced that Erling Haaland would join the club on 1 January 2019, signing a five-year contract.

January 2019: Joined Red Bull Salzburg

On 1 January 2019, Erling Haaland joined Red Bull Salzburg, after signing a contract with them on 19 August 2018.

May 2019: Nine goals against Honduras

In May 2019, Haaland scored nine goals in the Norway under-20 team's 12–0 win against Honduras at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Lublin, Poland.

August 2019: Named to Norway senior team

In August 2019, Haaland was named to the Norway senior team squad to face Malta and Sweden in UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying matches.

September 2019: Debuted against Malta

In September 2019, Haaland debuted for the Norway senior team against Malta.

December 2019: Confirmed signing with Borussia Dortmund

On 29 December 2019, Borussia Dortmund confirmed the signing of Erling Haaland for a fee reported to be in the region of €20 million.

2019: 44 goals in 40 appearances

Erling Haaland concluded his 2019-20 campaign with 44 goals in 40 club appearances across all competitions played for both Salzburg and Dortmund.

2019: Signed with Red Bull Salzburg

In 2019, Erling Haaland signed with Red Bull Salzburg, where he later won the Austrian Bundesliga and the Austrian Cup.

2019: Won Golden Boot at FIFA U-20 World Cup

In 2019, Erling Haaland won the Golden Boot at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he scored a record nine goals in a single match. He also made his senior international debut for Norway.

2019: Scored in first five Champions League matches

On 27 November 2019, Erling Haaland scored another goal against Genk, joining a select group of players to score in the first five matches of a Champions League group stage and becoming the first teenager to score in five consecutive matches in the competition.

January 2020: Bundesliga Debut and Hat-Trick

On 18 January 2020, Erling Haaland made his debut for Dortmund against FC Augsburg, scoring a hat-trick within 23 minutes. By 24 January 2020, Haaland became the first Bundesliga player to score five goals in his opening two matches, as well as the fastest player to reach that tally. He won January's Bundesliga Player of the Month award.

September 2020: First senior international goal

In September 2020, Haaland scored his first senior international goal for Norway in a 1–2 loss against Austria in the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League B.

September 2020: Scored a brace against Borussia Mönchengladbach

On 19 September 2020, Erling Haaland scored a brace in a 3–0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach.

2020: Joined Borussia Dortmund

In 2020, Erling Haaland joined Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund.

2020: Fastest to 15 Champions League Goals

In 2020, Erling Haaland scored six times in the first four matches of the 2020–21 Champions League group stage, becoming the fastest player to record 15 Champions League goals in just 12 matches.

January 2021: Scored a brace against RB Leipzig

In January 2021, Erling Haaland scored a brace away against RB Leipzig in a 3–1 win on 9 January, and another two in a 4–2 defeat to Mönchengladbach on 22 January.

August 2021: Hat-trick versus Wehen Wiesbaden

In August 2021, Erling Haaland began the 2021-22 season with a hat-trick against Wehen Wiesbaden in the DFB-Pokal first round.

September 2021: Haaland scores five goals in World Cup Qualifiers

During the September 2021 international break, Erling Haaland scored five goals in three World Cup qualification matches, including a second hat-trick for Norway in a 5–1 victory against Gibraltar.

2021: Won first title with Borussia Dortmund

In 2021, Erling Haaland secured his first title with Borussia Dortmund after scoring a brace in his team's 4–1 win over Leipzig in the 2021 DFB-Pokal final. He ended the season with 41 goals in all competitions and was named Bundesliga Player of the Season, also finishing as the top scorer of the Champions League.

2021: Won the DFB-Pokal with Borussia Dortmund

In 2021, Erling Haaland won the DFB-Pokal with Borussia Dortmund.

May 2022: Deal to sign Haaland

In May 2022, Manchester City announced a deal to sign Erling Haaland after activating his €60 million release clause.

August 2022: Premier League Player of the Month

In August 2022, Erling Haaland scored twice on his Premier League debut against West Ham United. Later in the month, he scored his first Premier League hat-trick against Crystal Palace, followed by a perfect hat-trick against Nottingham Forest, becoming the fastest player to score two hat-tricks in Premier League history and was voted Premier League Player of the Month for August.

September 2022: Joint-top scorer in UEFA Nations League

In September 2022, Erling Haaland finished as the joint-top scorer of the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League with six goals in League B.

2022: First trophy with Manchester City

Haaland won his first trophy with Manchester City after they clinched the 2022–23 Premier League title on 20 May.

2022: Transferred to Manchester City

In 2022, Erling Haaland transferred to Manchester City for a fee of €60 million (£51.2 million).

January 2023: Fourth Hat-trick of the season

In January 2023, Haaland scored his fourth hat-trick of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers, achieving a total of 25 Premier League goals after only 19 matches, surpassing the previous season's top scorers.

August 2023: Victory over Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup

In August 2023, Haaland scored a brace in Manchester City's Premier League season opener. Days later, he won his first trophy of the season in the UEFA Super Cup victory over Sevilla.

October 2023: Surpasses Einar Gundersen as Norway's second-highest all-time top scorer

On 12 October 2023, Haaland's brace in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Cyprus brought his international tally to 27 goals in 27 appearances, surpassing Einar Gundersen as Norway's second-highest all-time top scorer.

February 2024: Victory against Luton Town

In February 2024, Haaland scored the sole goal in a home win against Brentford. Later in the month, he scored five goals in a 6–2 victory against Luton Town in the FA Cup.

June 2024: Scores third hat-trick for Norway against Kosovo

On 5 June 2024, Haaland scored a third hat-trick for his country in a 3–0 friendly win against Kosovo, bringing him within three goals of Norwegian top scorer Jørgen Juve.

August 2024: First goal in league season

In August 2024, after failing to score in City's opening 2024 Community Shield victory, Haaland scored the club's first goal of the league season in a 2–0 victory at Chelsea. Later in the month, Haaland netted his first hat-trick of the season with the help of a penalty in a 4–1 victory against newly promoted Ipswich Town.

October 2024: Becomes Norway's all-time top scorer

On 10 October 2024, Haaland scored a brace in a 3–0 Nations League win over Slovenia, reaching 34 international goals to become Norway's all-time top scorer at the age of just 24, and overtaking Juve's record that had stood since 1937.

January 2025: Contract Extension with the Club

In January 2025, Haaland extended his contract with the club until 2034, reportedly earning £500,000 per week with this new agreement.

June 2025: Secures Norway's first victory over Italy in 25 years

On 6 June 2025, Haaland scored Norway's final goal in their 3–0 World Cup qualifying win against Italy, securing the nation's first victory over the Italians in 25 years.

August 2025: Most goals in 100 matches

In August 2025, Haaland scored a brace in City's first match of the 2025–26 Premier League, helping his team to a 4–0 away victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Later in the month Haaland also became the player with the most goals (88) in his first 100 matches in the Premier League, surpassing Alan Shearer's record of 79 goals.