In a historic moment, Erling Haaland became the fastest player to reach 50 goals in the UEFA Champions League during Manchester City’s 2-0 victory over Napoli. He reached this remarkable milestone in just 49 appearances, breaking the previous record held by Ruud van Nistelrooy, who took 62 games to achieve the same.
City’s Phil Foden marveled at Haaland’s achievements, saying, “He seems to break every record going. At his age, it’s unheard of what he’s doing.”
Haaland’s Record-Breaking Journey Continues
At only 25 years old, Haaland is now aiming to close in on Cristiano Ronaldo’s all-time Champions League goal record of 141 goals. City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, was quick to praise Haaland’s potential, saying, “The numbers speak for itself. If he plays 10, 12 years… if he maintains this progression, absolutely (he can).”
This recent record follows another significant feat last year, when Haaland became the fastest player to score 30 goals in Champions League history. His performance continues to set him apart in both the Champions League and Premier League.
Since joining Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, Haaland has found the net 130 times in just 151 matches, showcasing his incredible consistency.
Haaland Surpasses Legends and Eyes Future Milestones
Guardiola reflected on Haaland’s impact at City, saying, “How lucky and fortunate we are to have him. His record puts him among the greats like Ronaldo, Messi, and Lewandowski.”
Haaland’s latest goal, a stunning header in the second half at the Etihad Stadium, added to his tally. He has already scored 12 goals in seven appearances this season, including five in Norway’s massive 11-1 win over Moldova.
The Norway international has now surpassed iconic players like Alfredo Di Stefano and Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the all-time Champions League goals list. Haaland is tied with Filippo Inzaghi and just one goal behind Thierry Henry, who holds 11th place.
While Lionel Messi remains the youngest player to reach 50 Champions League goals, Kylian Mbappe has scored 57 goals in 79 games. Haaland’s next milestone could be Robert Lewandowski’s record of 80 goals in 100 Champions League appearances, a mark he could reach in the coming seasons.
With 141 goals, Ronaldo currently leads the Champions League scoring chart, followed by Messi with 129 and Lewandowski with 105. Haaland’s extraordinary pace suggests he could soon be in the race for the top spot.
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