Christian Vieri knows a thing or two about scoring at a FIFA World Cup™. Before the 2026 finals, the former Italy striker could boast of being the only European player to score at his first four appearances at the global finals.
That World Cup record has now been swiped by a certain Erling Haaland, and Vieri has nothing but admiration for the man who has displaced him. Vieri also believes that England have a lot to be worried about as they go up against a man who has amassed an extraordinary 62 goals in just 54 international appearances.
“For me, he's unstoppable,” Vieri told the FIFA Podcast. “He's just too big, too strong, and when he has space, he's quick and he's hungry, and that's the most important thing. If Norway start getting the crosses in, the sooner they start crossing, it's going to be very hard for England because, for me, when they start crossing, he's unbeatable in the box.
“He's amazing. I haven't seen a striker like this in a long time. He's so big, huge, and he plays very, very simple. He's got an amazing shot, a lot of strength, so, like you can see he's a phenomenal striker. He scores one or two goals every game wherever he plays.”
Haaland has spearheaded Norway to their best ever display at their fourth World Cup, and the standout moment of their North American adventure was unquestionably their 2-1 win over Brazil. Vieri – who scored five goals at France 1998 and four at Korea/Japan 2002 – was not surprised by the result.
While he "wasn’t shocked at all" to see Norway triumph, he was taken aback by Argentina’s enthralling Round of 16 tie with Egypt - and the hunger Lionel Messi and Co showed in fighting back. “No, I didn’t see that coming,” Vieri admitted. “You think at some point the hunger will be gone a little bit, that the stomach will be full. But it’s not.
“The grit that Argentina show, the desire to win - there’s also the capability to suffer through difficult moments against a fantastic Egyptian team. It is unbelievable. And then, obviously, what Messi is doing - we’re all shaking our heads. It’s not human in a certain way."
The FIFA Podcast takes fans to the heart of FIFA World Cup 2026™ with exclusive access, expert analysis and unforgettable stories from across Canada, Mexico and USA. Hosted by Christian Vieri and Mikael Silvestre, the show features FIFA legends, current football stars and celebrity guests reflecting on the tournament’s biggest moments. From match reactions and behind-the-scenes insights to unique World Cup memories, each episode offers a fresh perspective on the beautiful game. New episodes are available throughout the tournament on all major podcast streaming platforms.
Sources: FIFA Official
