Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany has compared the Norwegian to both strikers, but here's how Haaland compares to them this season
Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Cristiano Ronaldo
Manchester City's guardian Erling Haaland made headlines last week after scoring an incredible eight goals in two games as the Blues progress to the next stages of the Champions League and FA Cup.
The Norway international, who withdrew from the national team this week due to injury, scored five times in RB Leipzig's destruction in Europe before scoring three against Burnley on national duty. It prompted City legend and Clarets boss Vincent Kompany to draw parallels between the 22-year-old and the game's greats.
"I've faced the greatest players of all time, Messi, Ronaldinho, [Zinedine] Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo. . . In the end, they're very special elites because I think even the best would have a hard time stopping these guys no matter what you say," Kompany said.
"Someone like Erling will continue to find a way. The most important thing for me is that it looks like his play can still improve and maybe that's the difference with other superstars, it's one superstars are always ready to improve and it's fun to watch.
“I think the scoring record in general puts you in a certain range, I don't need to say more than to show you his scoring record. This is the hardest part of the game.
"But I see the mood is improving. His game has improved since he arrived six months ago and if he continues to do so, he will have to (become one of the greatest of all time), it's not something you experience a lot."
Haaland has already crossed the 40-goal mark this season and could hit 60 before the season ends. In modern terms, it would place him alongside Ronaldo and Messi, who have already crossed that milestone in Spain. Here's how the Man City forward compares to Messi's fantastic 2011-2012 season and Ronaldo's prolific 2014-15 season. Erling Haaland - Manchester City - 2022/23
Goal 42, match 37
Haaland has started 35 times for City this season and has scored six hat-tricks. His record since joining Manchester is phenomenal and he averages one goal every 68 minutes. He is well on his way to winning the Premier League Golden Boot after already scoring 28 goals, scoring 10 more in the Champions League and four in domestic cup competitions. Six have come on penalties and City are still vying for three titles as the Norway international tries to turn an incredible first year at the Etihad.
Cristiano Ronaldo - Real Madrid - 2014/15
Goal 61, match 54
An incredible individual season for the former Manchester United player as he scored 48 goals in La Liga. It was enough to make him Spain's top scorer this season, but notably not enough to send Real back to the title as they finished second behind Barcelona.
Haaland equaled Ronaldo's record in the Champions League, as Madrid reached the last four that year, and the Norwegian has a better percentage of minutes to score, with the legendary Portuguese averaging 76 minutes. Nha scored again this season.
Ronaldo has scored eight hat-tricks and 13 penalties, while his total of 23 assists suggests Haaland will be unmatched in a complete game. But the Al-Nassr man now has only the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup to show his efforts at the end of the season.
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