Merely three days after becoming the fastest to score 50 English Premier League goals, Erling Haaland broke more records in European football. The Norwegian striker easily surpassed Dutch legend Ruud van Nistelrooy to become the fastest player ever to score 40 goals in the history of UEFA Champions League (UCL). (Football News)
Haaland needed just 35 goals to get to the landmark, while Nistelrooy had taken 45 games to get there. On top of that, Haaland also became the youngest footballer in UCL history to net 40 goals, breaking his contemporary Kylian Mbappe's record. Mbappe himself shone bright in the UCL the same day, scoring a 98th-minute penalty for Paris Saint-Germain that earned them a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United.
Mbappe was 23 years and 317 days old when he got to the milestone last year, while Haaland was 23 years and 131 days old when he starred in Manchester City's spectacular 3-2 comeback win over Leipzig on Wednesday, September 29, 2023 and helped take his side to knockout stage of UCL's 2023-24 season. The victory clinched City the top spot in Group G with a round of group games remaining.
Haaland's City coach Pep Guardiola couldn't contain his joy when asked to describe his ward's feat. “Again? I have to tell you again?” Guardiola laughed when asked for comment. “A thousand million times, I’m really impressed. They won today. Another record. Congratulations.
Guardiola added: "He’s a fantastic player. I tell you many times, we’re really, really pleased. We love him, not just for the goals he scores, but for many many other things.”
Haaland scored in the 54th minute as City fought back from 0-2 down at half-time to pump in three goals in the latter half and emerge unlikely victors in the end, with Phil Foden spearheading the effort.
