Ten years ago, an Indian Under-17 team held Norway scoreless in the first half in a youth international game. On Sunday, one of the boys in that part of Norway, Erling Haaland, led his country into the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup with a match-winning performance against mighty Brazil.Haaland scored twice as Norway beat Brazil 2-1 to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time. The forward scored in the 79th minute before adding another before the end of regulation time to send his team through. “Maybe this will write history in Norway,” said Haaland. “Everyone is just having fun. This is just an insane day. It is one of the most insane days in Norwegian history. Just enjoy it, embrace it and enjoy the moment.”The second goal was Haaland’s seventh of the tournament, bringing him level with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot.Norway is playing in the World Cup for only the fourth time and for the first time since 1998 after missing out on the previous six editions. Haaland, who turns 26 on July 21, wasn’t even born when Norway last qualified for the tournament. Today, he is the most famous football player in the country.After Haaland’s performance, cricket commentator Joy Bhattacharjya recalled his link with Indian football.Bhattacharjya said that in 2016, Haaland played for Norway’s Under-16 team against India’s Under-17 team, which was preparing for the Under-17 World Cup. The game was goalless at half-time before Indian defender Sanjeev Stalin was sent off. Haaland scored after Norway won 2-0.The match report from June 19, 2016, is still available on the All India Football Federation website.“After the Indian Colts were reduced to 10 men in the 54th minute, when Sanjeev earned a second yellow card for a daring tackle, Norway took the lead in the 57th minute through Erling Braut Haaland and doubled their lead in the 80th minute, when Erik Bothheim’s strike found the net,” he said.“After a goalless first half, Sanjeev was sent off in the 54th minute and India was reduced to 10 men. The Indian Colts failed to erase their deficit after conceding goals in the 57th and 80th minutes as the full-time scoreline read 2-0 in favor of Norway.”Many players from that India Under-17 team later represented the senior national team and clubs in the Indian Super League. Haaland, meanwhile, has developed into one of the leading players in world football.As Norway prepares for the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Indian football finds itself in a different position. Among the 211 member associations of FIFA, India is ranked 138th.