Erling Haaland has achieved a remarkable feat in the Champions League, becoming the fastest and youngest player to score 40 goals in the competition.
He broke Kylian Mbappe‘s previous record. Haaland scored in Manchester City’s comeback victory against RB Leipzig, helping them win 3-2 after being 2-0 down. The goal marked his 40th in the Champions League, achieved in just 35 matches, making him the quickest player in history to reach this milestone. He surpassed Ruud van Nistelrooy‘s record by achieving it in 10 matches fewer. At the age of 23, Haaland also became the youngest player to reach 40 Champions League goals, surpassing Mbappe’s previous record set in November 2022.
This has been a week of breaking records for Haaland. In the Premier League, he became the fastest player to score 50 goals, achieving this milestone in his 48th match. He surpassed Andy Cole’s previous record of 65 games.
Speaking on City’s win after the game, Pep Guardiola said: “Of course we are incredibly happy to have qualified with two games left. Finish first. We have time to think about it. Maybe we were not… clinical is not the right word… not clear, sweet, soft enough in the last moment to score more goals. But I love to see the team.
“The word that define this group of players for many years is the consistency. We have high standards and and that is why we are still in the Premier League up there and qualified from the Champions League. People say ‘yeah, the group stage, it is easy’, but you have to do it. In life, you have to do it when people expect you to do it. Two games left. Leipzig are the toughest opponents in this group and we have to try and finish further. It is important in the last 16 to have the weapon of second game at home rather than away.”
After securing first place for City in their group, Haaland might be given a break for their last match against Crvena zvezda in December. Then, he will aim to increase his goal count in the Premier League when City faces Tottenham Hotspur, their title competitors, at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
