'Monster, freak!' - Erling Haaland goes 'full beast mode' with FIVE goals during Norway's 11-1 demolition of Moldova

The evening began with Haaland as provider, setting up Felix Myrhe to open the scoring inside six minutes. What followed was sheer carnage. Haaland struck in the 11th, 36th and 43rd minutes to rack up yet another international hat-trick, his fifth for Norway. By half-time, the contest was dead and buried, especially after skipper Martin Odegaard added a slick finish in first-half stoppage time.

If the visitors hoped the interval might bring respite, Haaland crushed those dreams almost instantly. Just seven minutes into the second half, he bagged his fourth. And, as if scripted, the relentless forward completed his five-goal haul in the 83rd minute, cementing his name further into the annals of Norwegian football. Rangers midfielder Thelo Aasgaard, introduced as a substitute just after the hour mark, scored four times off the bench, but was still overshadowed by Haaland's heroics.

Supporters were quick to flood social media with awe and disbelief.

@Football__Tweet wrote: "Erling Haaland with a first-half hat-trick. Monster. Beast. Freak."

@nonamegang10 gushed: “The World Cup ain’t ready for the Haaland and Odegaard link-up.”

@seraj_atcc wrote: "Erling Haaland going full beast mode!  Four moments of magic in 43 minutes—absolutely untouchable!"

@utd_abz05 said: "Haaland carrying Norway to a World Cup, respect."

@matovic41476 focused on the sheer absurdity of it all: "NORWAY 💀💀💀😭😭😭 BLOODY TEN, HAALAND FIVE FAIRS😭."

@Never_CapAgain put the night into historical perspective: "Erling Haaland will go down as an all-time striker… five goals after missing three big chances. Ridiculous."

By the final whistle, Haaland had taken his extraordinary tally to 48 goals in 45 appearances for Norway. The quintet of strikes marked his personal best in international colours and the most by a European in a World Cup qualifier since Hans Krankl’s six for Austria in 1977.

The thumping victory keeps Norway six points ahead of second-place Italy, who only just edged past Israel in a chaotic 5-4 thriller the previous evening. With Haaland and Odegaard firing, Solbakken’s men look like genuine dark horses for the 2026 tournament.