Key Takeaways:
- Erling Haaland has scored in 11 consecutive international matches, equalling a FIFA record last set in 1962
- The Manchester City forward’s run began on 14 November 2024 against Slovenia
- Abdul Ghani Minhat previously held the record with 11 successive scoring appearances for Malaysia from 1961 to 1962
Historic Achievement for Norwegian Forward
Erling Haaland has added another accolade to his burgeoning international career, drawing level with a long-standing FIFA record by scoring in 11 successive appearances for Norway’s national side. This achievement comes amid Norway’s successful World Cup qualification campaign and a notable win over Italy.
The prolific forward’s goal-scoring streak commenced on 14 November 2024 when he found the net against Slovenia. Since that date, Norway failed to secure victory only once in a recent friendly against New Zealand, a match that concluded 1:1 but which Haaland did not feature in.
Record Mirrors Feat by Malaysian Legend
The previous record-holder for most consecutive international games with a goal was Abdul Ghani Minhat of Malaysia. Minhat netted in 11 straight national team appearances from 28 May 1961 until 28 August 1962, as verified by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS).
| Player | Consecutive Games Scored | National Team | Streak Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erling Haaland | 11 | Norway | 14 November 2024 – Present |
| Abdul Ghani Minhat | 11 | Malaysia | 28 May 1961 – 28 August 1962 |
| Lionel Messi | 8 | Argentina | 3 December 2022 – 8 September 2023 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 6 | Portugal | 7 June 2019 – 17 November 2019 |
Comparison with Other Notable Streaks
Among the game’s biggest stars, Cristiano Ronaldo’s highest such run with Portugal stands at six consecutive games with a goal, accomplished twice, with the most recent sequence spanning from 7 June to 17 November 2019.
Lionel Messi drew nearer, producing an eight-match scoring streak for Argentina between 3 December 2022 and 8 September 2023. This followed on from an earlier six-game run, which was separated from the longer streak by just one goalless match – Argentina’s 2:0 victory over Poland at the 2022 World Cup, a game in which Messi failed to convert a penalty. Had he found the net on that occasion, the Argentine captain would have extended his sequence to 15 games.
