Erling Haaland. A name already synonymous with goals, efficiency, and, for many, a different era in world football. But that's not all; is this young Norwegian forward really the monster everybody speaks about? Or are we just looking at another player who was just lucky to be in the right place at the right time?
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Staggering are the numbers of Haaland. Manchester City's No.9 has scored seven hat-tricks in just 68 Premier League appearances, and he has already matched the incredible feat of Wayne Rooney, the Manchester United legend who needed 491 matches to reach the same total. That is nothing short of mind-blowing, especially considering that Haaland is only 23 with his whole career ahead of him.
But do these numbers really put him on the same level as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, as many are quick to claim? Let's take a breath.
The Hat-Trick Race
First up, let's just set the record straight. The Premier League has always been one of the most challenging leagues in the world. What Haaland is doing is not ordinary. For example, Rooney is going to be one of the best to ever do it in the history of English soccer. His hat-tricks were well worked out in their time when competition was stiff and the defense very difficult.
Haaland, on the other hand, plays in a team that dominates the Premier League in a way few have managed. Manchester City is a goal-scoring machine, and with Pep Guardiola at the helm, Haaland is its sharpest tool. He bags three in one every 10 games; it is undoubtedly very impressive, but how much of that is individual talent, and how much of the system is reflected in the numbers?
He's just 23, so he has a very long career ahead of him. And if he goes on with this pace, it would not take long until all the records stand broken by him. Another legendary figure for Manchester City, Sergio Agüero, boasts 12 hat-tricks in the Premier League. Haaland already has 7, and wants no breakthrough.
You can't mention Haaland without thinking about Guardiola. The Catalan coach is one of the leading constructors of modern soccer, and what he has been able to do with Manchester City speaks for itself. Guardiola has engraved his own brand through extraction of high-class performances from his players, and with Haaland, it is not going to be any different.
But, interestingly, Guardiola was also quick to point out one important thing: despite Haaland's gaudy numbers, the best striker he has ever coached in his life was, in fact, Lionel Messi. This is hardly a slight on Haaland, but just one fact each and every one of us tends to overlook: Messi is from a different planet. Comparing Haaland with Messi is to compare a meteor with a star; they both shine, but differently.
It would have been an overstatement comparing Haaland with Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, were one to go by his numbers. In fact, his numbers are so insane that even Guardiola, the coach under whom Messi took his game to another level, is gushing about it. Sure, Messi is Messi; Ronaldo is Ronaldo; however, Haaland is fast turning into Haaland—a name that commands respect on its own.
Norwegian Goal Machine
If we have to be honest, what Haaland does is simply outstanding. This strength, speed, and accuracy are part of the characteristics that few strikers possess. He's already a phenomenon, but we should possibly be careful before anointing him the new king of world soccer.
However, Haaland is still in the early days of his career, and there's still a long way to go. He has to prove that he can maintain this level of consistency over the years, face adversities, and, above all, shine in moments of real championship and international contest finals.
His failure to push Norway through to the Euro 2024 was another, perhaps much-needed, time off. A little more resting phase, and gearing up with full fresh energy and thoughts for the 2024/25 season, and then Haaland came back all over again with four goals within two games. This not only gayed about his class as a resilient start but then left question marks as to whether he will carry on at this when the going gets tough.
Haaland has just about everything to become a footballing legend. Soccer is about numbers, but at the end of the day, it goes far beyond, the stories, and most of all, the moments and memories that are eternally embedded in the minds of each supporter. Ronaldo and Messi have them by the dozen: a crucial goal in a Champions League final or a historical performance at a World Cup. Haaland is still missing that if he wants to include himself in the company of these giants.
Well, one thing's for sure: he keeps this up, those moments will come. Haaland has the potential, the team, and coach to be a great player. It is now up to him to go out there and show he's more than just impressive stats on a spreadsheet.
All said and done, Haaland is for sure one of the greatest talents soccer has ever seen. His numbers are close to unreal and his influence on games is a talent few other players have. But soccer is just a game of nuances. True greatness really gets measured not just by what you do but in the impacts you leave on the footballing world and the hearts of the fans.
If Haaland is able to make these numbers turn into titles and memorable moments, he will easily become a legend. Until then, let's enjoy the spectacle of him playing his game, and we can all keep guessing how far this will go for him. In the end, after all, in football—just like in life—the future is uncertain, but the possibilities are endless.