Worry? Haaland has 9 goals against the Brazilian national team's defense duo
Erling Haaland arrives for the clash between Brazil and Norway, in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, with numbers that could worry the opposing defense. The Norwegian striker has already scored 9 goals in matches against Gabriel Magalhães and Marquinhos, defenders tipped to form the Brazilian team's duo in the duel.
Most of the retrospective was built against Magalhães during the clashes between Manchester City and Arsenal. On the occasions they faced each other, Haaland scored six times. Furthermore, the attacker and defender go through tense moments when they are face to face.
The most remembered episode took place in September 2024, at the Etihad Stadium. City took the lead with Haaland, but Arsenal turned the game around with goals from Calafiori and Gabriel. With one player less after Trossard's expulsion, the London team held off the pressure until the final minutes, when John Stones scored the equalizer.
In celebration, Haaland went to the goal, picked up the ball and threw it at Gabriel, who was lying next to the net. The move did not result in punishment during the match, but it generated criticism in England, including from former striker Ian Wright, who classified the attitude as an unnecessary provocation.
Against Marquinhos, from PSG, the Norwegian striker's numbers are lower, but also expressive. Haaland faced the defender three times in his career and scored three goals in total. However, the Brazilian's record is favorable, as he came away with two wins and one defeat against his rival.
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The games took place in the Champions League. The first two times, Haaland was still at Borrusia Dortmund and was just 19 years old. In the most recent one, he was already playing for Manchester City.
Brazil x Norway
Brazil and Norway face each other in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, at 5pm (Brasília time), on Sunday (5), in the United States.
The teams are coming off victories against Japan and Ivory Coast, respectively. Haaland was the scorer of the goal that guaranteed the classification of the Norwegian team. Magalhães helped the Brazilians with the assist for the equalizing goal in the match against the Japanese.
The teams enter the field in search of a place in the quarter-finals of the competition. To date, the European team remains one of the few that has never been defeated by Brazil in the history of football. Whoever advances will play against the team between Mexico and England.
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Source: CNN