Manchester City’s prolific striker, Erling Haaland, has once again etched his name into the annals of football history, setting a new UEFA Champions League record for the fastest player to reach 50 goals. This remarkable milestone was achieved during Manchester City’s dominant 2-0 victory over SSC Napoli at the Etihad Stadium.
Haaland, who has forged a formidable reputation for his exceptional goal-scoring prowess since his initial appearances with RB Salzburg, through his impactful tenure at Borussia Dortmund, and now with Manchester City, delivered a performance that underscored his status as a key attacker for the English Premier League champions. His decisive strike against Napoli not only opened the scoring for his side but also marked his 50th goal in Europe’s most prestigious club competition.
The 25-year-old Norwegian sensation reached the half-century mark in an astonishing 49 appearances. This achievement significantly surpasses the previous record, which was held by former Manchester United and Real Madrid legend Ruud van Nistelrooy, who required 62 matches to net 50 Champions League goals.
While Haaland now holds the record for speed, other football greats have their own unique achievements related to the 50-goal milestone. Lionel Messi, for instance, reached 50 goals in 66 Champions League matches. However, the Argentine superstar still maintains the distinction of being the youngest player to score 50 goals in the competition, achieving it at 24 years and 284 days old. Haaland, at 25, is slightly older, placing him ahead of Kylian Mbappé in the race to be the youngest to reach this particular tally.
Haaland’s incredible scoring rate places him in an exclusive company, outperforming the pace of many iconic strikers who have graced European football. His ascent past players like Real Madrid hero Alfredo Di Stéfano and former star Zlatan Ibrahimović in goal-scoring metrics highlights his extraordinary impact. With his 50th goal, Haaland also surpassed Filippo Inzaghi’s record and is now just one goal shy of Thierry Henry’s 51 Champions League goals. Cristiano Ronaldo leads the all-time UEFA Champions League scoring charts with an astounding 141 goals, followed by Lionel Messi in second place with 129 goals.
