Erling Haaland has announced himself on the global stage during with seven goals so far at his first tournament, including at New York New Jersey Stadium on 5 July.
Football fans around the world have now ensured that his second in that game has a place among the official contenders for the award by selecting it as the winner of the poll for the Round of 16’s finest strike.
Haaland had already headed his side into the lead by rising above Gabriel Magalhaes in the 79th minute. Then, with the stadium clock having ticked up to 90, the powerful Manchester City forward received the ball on the corner of the Brazil box, taking one touch with his right, a second with his left to set himself and then a third thunderbolt which sent the ball arrowing across the helpless Alisson and into the bottom corner of the net.
Haaland's goal received 34 per cent of the vote from FIFA.com users around the globe, putting him ahead of Lionel Messi (25 per cent) after the , with Morocco's Azzedine Ounahi in third (16 per cent) following his .
Stale Solbakken's side held on through added time, despite a last-gasp Neymar penalty, and now take on England in Miami on Saturday, 11 July, with a World Cup semi-final against either Argentina or Switzerland firmly in their sights.
This is the third step in the process towards deciding the Hyundai Goal of the Tournament. There will be two subsequent votes, following the same process after the quarter-finals and semi-finals (combined), and then a final vote at the end of the tournament. With each voting window, FIFA.com users have 48 hours to place their vote.
The winner of the vote for the favourite goal of the group stage was , before .
Sources: FIFA Official
