World Cup 2026: Norway's Erling Haaland will go down as football's 'greatest goalscorer' says Jamie Carragher ahead of showdown with England's Harry Kane

Jamie Carragher says Erling Haaland will go down as "the greatest goalscorer of all time" - but he'd rather have Harry Kane in his team.

Haaland's Norway face Kane's England in a World Cup quarter-final on Saturday in a game which will see two of the tournament's top strikers go head-to-head.

However, Sky Sports pundit Carragher says Three Lions captain Kane just edges ahead of Haaland for him because of his all-round contributions.

"I've got to say Kane," Carragher told Sky Sports News when asked to pick between the pair. "I love Harry Kane. I think there's a bit more to Harry Kane's game than Erling Haaland."

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However, Carragher was effusive in his praise of Haaland, who he reckons will score over 1,000 goals in his career. The 25-year-old already has 379 to his name, including 62 in 54 matches for his country.

"I actually think Erling Haaland, when he finishes career, will be remembered as the greatest goalscorer of all time," said Carragher.

"He's probably the greatest goalscorer right now we've seen in English football.

"I know [Cristiano] Ronaldo is going for 1,000 goals in his career, I think Haaland will do that himself. He's just an absolute goal machine. His record at international level blows Lionel Messi and Ronaldo's apart after 50 or 60 games.

"He's a freak, he's a phenomenon, we should be delighted that we see him week-in week-out in the Premier League, he's a superstar."

Is there a way to stop 'man-mountain' Haaland?

Haaland has scored in each of his last 14 competitive games for Norway, netting 27 goals during that run. So how do England stop him?

"I think some of the England centre-backs have had decent results against him. Dan Burn and Ezri Konsa. He's got a few goals against Jordan Pickford, so maybe that doesn't bode well," said Carragher.

"But it's a difficult one with Haaland because he's not in the game that often really.

"He's absolutely devastating in the penalty box, and Gabriel, who's been one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League in these last three or four seasons, Haaland has just absolutely bullied him in Norway's game against Brazil.

"He just comes alive when that ball is in the box. His physicality, his height, even his pace when he's running on to things as well is breathtaking. I'm not sure you can stop him physically really. He's a man-mountain, he throws people about on the football pitch."

Carragher is tipping a narrow 2-1 win for England against Norway - but warned Thomas Tuchel's side not to underestimate their opponents in Miami, explaining they have more about them than just the goals of Haaland.

"I think Norway will be a tougher proposition than maybe a lot of people think," said Carragher.

"I watched them against Brazil and I thought they were fantastic. They totally deserved to win that game. They dominated Brazil possession-wise in that second half.

"They have some really good players, but it's a game we can win."

(c) Sky Sports 2026: World Cup 2026: Norway's Erling Haaland will go down as football's 'greatest goalscorer' says Jamie Carragher ahead of showdown with England's Harry Kane