Erling Haaland breaks Champions League record
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland etched his name into Champions League folklore during Wednesday night’s victory over his previous club, Borussia Dortmund, at the Etihad Stadium, reports BritPanorama.
The 25-year-old’s strike in the 29th minute marked his fifth successive Champions League appearance with a goal, but more significantly, he has accomplished this feat whilst representing three separate clubs.
No footballer has previously managed to score in five consecutive European matches for three different teams.
Haaland’s journey began at Red Bull Salzburg, where he scored in five consecutive European fixtures between September and November 2019, netting eight goals before his January transfer to Germany. At Dortmund, the prolific marksman continued his remarkable consistency, scoring in six consecutive Champions League matches during the 2020/21 campaign, netting ten goals in that sequence.
Even Cristiano Ronaldo, despite representing Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus in Europe’s elite competition, never accomplished this particular achievement. Haaland’s current scoring streak began during last season’s knockout stage, with two goals against Real Madrid in the first leg.
The sequence has continued throughout this campaign with strikes against Napoli, a double against Monaco, and a goal versus Villarreal before Wednesday’s encounter. The forward has maintained exceptional form across all competitions, registering 18 goals already this term. From 14 appearances, he has drawn blanks in merely two fixtures — defeats against Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.
His international performances have been equally impressive, contributing nine goals in his most recent three outings for Norway as they pursue qualification for their first World Cup since 1998.
Jeremy Doku converted the assist for Haaland’s historic goal with a precise low delivery from the left flank, which the striker emphatically dispatched. Phil Foden had opened the scoring earlier as City dominated proceedings, eventually securing a 4-1 triumph. The Norwegian’s European record now stands at 54 goals from merely 52 Champions League appearances, positioning him tenth on the tournament’s all-time scoring charts. He trails Thomas Müller by just three goals, though Ronaldo’s 141 and Lionel Messi’s 129 remain distant targets.
Haaland’s relentless pursuit of goals reflects not just individual brilliance, but an evolving narrative in modern football, where records can fall as quickly as expectations rise. As City continues its quest for Champions League glory, the spotlight turns not just to their star striker, but to the thrilling unpredictability of the competition itself.
