Manchester City striker Erling Haaland reached a significant milestone by scoring 300 professional goals faster than renowned players Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. This achievement took place during City’s 5-2 victory over Juventus at the FIFA Club World Cup on June 26, highlighting Haaland’s rapid rise in goal scoring.
Haaland’s Career Progression and Record-Breaking Pace
Haaland, widely recognized among the world’s top forwards, combined his physical strength, speed, aerial ability, and precise finishing to fast-track his scoring achievements. He netted his 300th career goal in just his 371st senior match during the 52nd minute against Juventus, extending Manchester City’s lead to 3-1.
When compared with other elite forwards, Haaland’s pace to 300 goals is unmatched. According to ESPN and AS, he achieved this feat well ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo, who took 554 games, and Lionel Messi, who reached it in 418 appearances. French star Kylian Mbappe also required more time, hitting the milestone in 409 games.
The distribution of Haaland’s 300 goals across his clubs and national team is as follows:
- Molde: 20 goals in 50 appearances
- RB Salzburg: 29 goals in 27 matches
- Borussia Dortmund: 86 goals in 89 games
- Manchester City: 123 goals in 145 matches
- Norway national team: 42 goals in 43 caps
Recent Performances and Upcoming Fixtures
Following a disappointing 2024-25 season without trophies, Haaland began the FIFA Club World Cup strongly. Beyond his goal against Juventus, he also scored and assisted in Manchester City’s 6-0 win over Al-Ain and contributed during a 30-minute stint in the 2-0 triumph against Wydad AC.
Manchester City is scheduled to face Al-Hilal in the Round of 16 on June 30, where Haaland will look to continue his prolific goal scoring form under the guidance of Pep Guardiola.
Pep Guardiola’s View on Haaland’s Place Among Legendary Strikers
After Haaland secured a 10-year contract extension with Manchester City, manager Pep Guardiola offered insight into the young striker’s progress in comparison to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Guardiola emphasized that while Haaland represents a different style of player, his numerical achievements are on par with those icons.
Reflecting on the historic rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo — who have collectively won 13 Ballon d’Or awards and scored over 850 goals each — Guardiola highlighted Haaland’s rapid rise despite being only 24 years old.
“Erling is a different type of player, everybody knows it. But in terms of numbers, scoring goals, they are similar. I don’t know, at the age Erling is right now, how many goals Leo or Cristiano had scored but it doesn’t matter. All three, and Kylian Mbappe as well, they have an unbelievable number so all of them are top.”
—Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager
Implications of Haaland’s Achievement in the Goal Scoring Landscape
Haaland’s swift accumulation of 300 goals signals that he is on track to challenge the long-standing records held by Messi and Ronaldo. His ability to maintain such a scoring rate at a young age suggests a new benchmark for goal scorers in modern football.
As Haaland continues competing in major tournaments such as the FIFA Club World Cup, his performances will be closely watched by fans and analysts who are eager to see how far he can push the boundaries established by football’s greatest scorers. His success also underscores Manchester City’s attacking strength and their ambitions on the global stage.