Erling Haaland Injury Update: Latest Fitness Status After Striker Limps Off for Norway

Manchester City fans have good reason to hold their breath following the latest international break.

During Norway’s UEFA Nations League match against Portugal, star striker Erling Haaland sparked a major injury scare when he signaled to the bench and was substituted in the 67th minute of a 2-1 defeat. He was spotted walking off the pitch and limping, prompting anxiety for City boss Pep Guardiola ahead of an important stretch of matches.

However, Norway manager Stale Solbakken quickly addressed the situation after the match to ease fears, citing the substitution to exhaustion rather than an actual injury. According to Solbakken, the pair had a “heart-to-heart” conversation before kickoff regarding his packed calendar and the heavy physical toll the striker has had to endure recently.

“He was tired against Wales,” Solbakken told reporters after the match. He might have played the last 45 minutes against Portugal. That was a discussion. But he has very bad vibes and feelings about it. I am very pleased that he managed to pull out 60 good minutes.”

Teammates echoed those sentiments, pointing out his busy schedule, which is compounded by a shortened summer turnaround, and leaves little time for the star to fully recharge.

 

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The NRK Sport account on Instagram shared a video of Haaland leaving the game, while a fan on X reshared the footage, writing that “he seems okay; he’s not limping.”

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The timing couldn’t be more critical for Manchester City, which is scheduled for a Premier League away game at Liverpool at Anfield, followed by a Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain.

While the early game in Portugal appears to have been a precautionary measure born out of fatigue, City’s medical staff will closely monitor their talisman’s fitness over the coming days to make sure he is ready to lead the line on Merseyside.

The injury scare and physical toll follows a whirlwind year for the striker, whose global fame reached new heights this summer during the 2026 FIFA World Cup where he captivated audiences worldwide during Norway’s 14-game run.