Haaland Reaches Champions League Half-Century in City’s Victory Over napoli
Naples, Italy – Erling haaland continues to redefine goalscoring standards, reaching 50 Champions League goals on Thursday night as Manchester City defeated Napoli 2-0. The norwegian striker’s clinical finish adds to a rapidly accumulating tally that is already drawing comparisons to the competition’s all-time greats.
Haaland’s milestone comes remarkably quickly, surpassing the pace of both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in their early Champions League careers. He achieved the feat in just 66 matches, significantly faster than Messi’s 66 and Ronaldo’s 91. While Ronaldo remains the competition’s leading scorer with 141 goals, Haaland’s current trajectory suggests he could challenge that record in the years to come.
The goal against Napoli was Haaland’s 27th for Manchester City in the Champions league, adding to his 15 for Borussia Dortmund and eight for RB Salzburg. A breakdown of his goals reveals a versatile finisher: 34 have come from his left foot, 11 from his right, and five with his head.
“He looked risky, it is such a clever ball, to not break stride - it is the instinct of a pure goalscorer,” remarked former City goalkeeper Joe Hart on TNT. “He looks fit, strong and hungry and I am really excited to see what he can achieve this season. You can have a near perfect game as a defender but as soon as you slip [he scores].”
Haaland’s recent form extends beyond the Champions League, having scored five goals in Norway’s 11-1 victory over Moldova just days prior, and reaching 90 Premier League goals in 101 games during Sunday’s win against Manchester United.
City manager Pep Guardiola believes Haaland has the potential to surpass Ronaldo’s Champions League record. “In that rhythm, yeah. He’s not injured,he could play for 10 or 12 more years,and he maintains this progression,absolutely,” Guardiola stated.
Former City defender Joleon lescott echoed this sentiment, adding, “He may not be the one who is having a great game, but if he is given a chance in front of goal he has a level of composure to execute.” Haaland’s ability to capitalize on limited opportunities underscores his status as one of the most lethal finishers in world football.
