Erling Haaland has emerged as a prominent player in soccer alongside Kylian Mbappe, following his success at Borussia Dortmund. While neither has won a Ballon d’Or, the Manchester City player has made headlines by breaking a record in the UEFA Champions League, surpassing both Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, Lionel Messi still retains a significant lead in achievements.
An official Instagram post by the UEFA Champions League highlighted Haaland’s milestone of scoring 50 goals in the tournament. He reached this at just 25 years and 59 days old, beating Kylian Mbappe, who did so at 25 years and 356 days, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who was 28 years and 78 days old. This achievement makes Haaland the second fastest player to reach this number of goals.
Despite Haaland’s remarkable scoring, Lionel Messi holds a unique record in Champions League history. He reached 50 goals at just 24 years and 284 days old, a record that remains unbeaten.
Erling Haaland surpasses Messi and Ronaldo’s records
When Haaland joined Manchester City, expectations were low. While seen as a top scorer, some doubted his ability to fit Pep Guardiola’s style. However, he adapted quickly and has shown impressive scoring skills. The Norwegian player has outdone both Messi and Ronaldo in a significant scoring achievement.
Erling Haaland of Manchester City smiles prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City.
According to the IFFHS, Haaland has scored 300 career goals in only 370 matches, reaching this at 24 years and 340 days. He surpassed Lionel Messi, who hit 300 goals at 25 years and 125 days, and Cristiano Ronaldo, who reached it at 27 years and 79 days. Nevertheless, Kylian Mbappe remains the youngest player in the 21st century to achieve 300 goals, doing so at 24 years and 333 days.
Even with challenges in the 2024-25 season, both personally and as a team, Haaland continues to be among the top scorers worldwide. If he keeps this scoring rate, the Norwegian may match or exceed Cristiano Ronaldo’s famous goal tally. Ronaldo reached his highest scoring form after turning 30, and at this pace, Haaland is building a promising legacy in soccer.