Haaland sets new Champions League scoring benchmark but still far behind Ronaldo

Another game, another milestone for Erling Haaland.

The Manchester City striker became the fastest player to reach 50 Champions League goals in a 2-0 win over Napoli on Thursday, hitting the landmark in just his 49th appearance in Europe’s top club competition.

Haaland broke the previous record set by former Manchester United and Real Madrid star Ruud van Nistelrooy, who needed 62 games to reach 50 goals.

“He seems to break every record going. At his age, it’s unheard of what he’s doing,” City teammate Phil Foden said.

At 25, Haaland already looks on course to challenge Cristiano Ronaldo’s all-time Champions League scoring record of 141 goals.

“The numbers speak for itself,” City manager Pep Guardiola said. “If he plays 10, 12 years... if he maintains this progression, absolutely (he can).”

The Norway striker has been rewriting records since his arrival at City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022. He was already the fastest player to reach 30 Champions League goals, and the fastest to 50 Premier League goals.

Haaland has scored 130 goals in 151 games for City. His latest Champions League strike — a looping header early in the second half — adds to his tally of 12 goals in seven games this season for club and country, including five in Norway’s 11-1 rout of Moldova and two in City’s 3-0 derby win over United.

By reaching 50, he has moved past greats like Alfredo Di Stefano and Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the Champions League scorers list. He is now level with Filippo Inzaghi and one behind Thierry Henry, who sits 11th on UEFA’s all-time chart.

Lionel Messi remains the youngest to 50 goals, achieving it at 24 years and 284 days. Kylian Mbappe, meanwhile, reached 50 goals in 79 games and has 57 overall.

Haaland’s next target is Messi’s record of 60 Champions League goals in 80 matches, as well as Robert Lewandowski’s mark of 80 goals in 100 games.

Cristiano Ronaldo still leads the all-time list with 141 goals, followed by Messi on 129 and Lewandowski on 105.

“How lucky and fortunate we are to have him,” Guardiola said, placing Haaland among the game’s greats alongside Ronaldo, Messi and Lewandowski.