Erling Haaland Sets Record as Fastest to 50 Champions League Goals

Manchester City began their UEFA Champions League campaign in style with a 2-0 win over Napoli, and once again, Erling Haaland was the star of the show. The Norwegian striker not only scored in the match but also achieved a historic milestone—he became the fastest player ever to reach 50 goals in the Champions League, doing so in just 49 matches. This remarkable achievement broke the long-standing record held by Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who had reached the same tally in 62 matches during his time at Manchester United and Real Madrid. Haaland’s consistency and hunger for goals have made him one of the most lethal forwards in modern football.

Phil Foden, his Manchester City teammate, was full of praise for Haaland’s record-breaking moment. Foden described Haaland’s achievements as “unheard of” at such a young age, pointing out that it feels like he is destined to break almost every record in football. At only 25 years old, Haaland is already being compared to the greatest players in Champions League history. While Cristiano Ronaldo remains the competition’s all-time top scorer with 141 goals, many now believe that Haaland could realistically chase that record if he maintains his scoring form for the next decade.

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola also shared his admiration for the Norwegian forward. Guardiola highlighted that the numbers themselves show Haaland’s extraordinary ability, and if he continues to play for the next 10 to 12 years at this level, he could easily rewrite Champions League history. Guardiola also reminded fans that this isn’t Haaland’s first major record in Europe—he had already broken the fastest 30-goal record in the Champions League back in 2023 and later became the quickest player to score 50 goals in the English Premier League.

Since joining Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, Haaland has taken the Premier League and European football by storm. He has already scored 130 goals in 151 matches for City, an astonishing ratio that cements his status as one of the best strikers in the world. His sharp instincts, physical presence, and finishing ability make him a nightmare for defenders. This season, he has continued his blistering form, netting 12 goals in just 7 matches across club and international football. Recently, he scored 5 goals in Norway’s emphatic 11-1 win over Moldova, further proving his reputation as a goal machine.

With this rapid rise, Haaland has already entered the top scorers’ list in both the Champions League and the Europa League. He has surpassed legends such as Alfredo Di Stefano and Zlatan Ibrahimovic and is now joint 10th on the UEFA top scorers’ chart. At this point, he is level with Italian striker Filippo Inzaghi and already one goal ahead of French legend Thierry Henry. This puts him in elite company, but his career trajectory suggests that he will climb much higher in the years to come.

However, Lionel Messi still holds an important record when it comes to being the youngest player to reach 50 Champions League goals. Messi achieved the feat at the age of 24 years and 284 days, slightly younger than Haaland. In addition, Messi holds the records for the fastest to 60 goals (80 matches) and 70 goals (90 matches) in the competition. These could be the next milestones Haaland sets his eyes on. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe, another superstar forward, reached 50 goals in 79 matches and now has 57 goals in the tournament.

The competition’s history also features other greats like Robert Lewandowski, who reached 80 goals in 100 matches and currently sits third on the all-time list with 105 Champions League goals. Ahead of him are Ronaldo with 141 and Messi with 129. Both of these legends have left European football, meaning the door is wide open for Haaland and Mbappe to chase their records.

For now, Haaland’s place in Champions League history is already secure with his record-breaking “fastest 50,” but the journey is only beginning. With age, form, and the right team around him, he could go on to dominate Europe’s top stage for the next decade. If he keeps up this pace, there is every chance that he could one day surpass even Ronaldo and Messi in the scoring charts, something that once seemed impossible.