Manchester City's prolific striker Erling Haaland has delivered a refreshingly candid verdict on being measured against footballing deities Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, firmly stating he does not desire the comparison.
Haaland's Stunning Season in Focus
Despite a breathtaking start to the campaign where he has found the net 19 times in just 16 appearances for the Citizens, the Norwegian hitman remains defiantly humble. His goal-scoring prowess has been so relentless that only three Premier League clubs—Tottenham, Aston Villa, and Newcastle United—have managed to stop him from scoring this season.
On the international stage, Haaland has been the driving force behind Norway qualifying for their first World Cup since 1998, netting an incredible 16 goals in eight qualifying matches.
A Record-Breaking Trajectory
Since his £51 million transfer to the Etihad, Haaland's numbers have been nothing short of supernatural. He has racked up 94 goals in 104 Premier League games. His record-shattering 36-goal haul in the 2022/2023 season set a new benchmark, and if he maintains this blistering pace, he is projected to surpass Alan Shearer's all-time record of 260 goals within the next five or six seasons.
Why Haaland Puts Messi and Ronaldo in a 'Different Category'
In an interview with Sky Sports, Haaland explained his reasoning for shunning the comparisons with the two modern greats. "I think, with Messi and Ronaldo, I think they should be in their own category, with all they've been doing 15 years at the highest level," he stated.
He elaborated further, highlighting their sustained excellence: "I think that no one comes close to this, what they've been doing, competing against each other, the goals they scored, the titles they won, the records they've been breaking, both of them. That's why I don't want to get compared with them."
The striker concluded with a clear personal preference, adding, "I don't want to look at them... It's if you start to compare with them, it's not fun for us. It's too difficult, you know. So, let me just be in the background and not too much focus would be better."
