Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said striker Erling Haaland is of the same calibre as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo after the Norwegian international scored twice in Saturday’s 4-1 Premier League victory at Southampton.
Haaland scored on a header and remarkable bicycle kick, taking his tally to 44 goals in all competitions this season, with 30 of those coming in the Premier League.
His total is now tied for the most ever by a Premier League player in all competitions in a single campaign, equalling Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2002-03 and Mohamed Salah in 2017-18.
Advertisement · Scroll to continue
“We have lived two incredible decades with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but he is on that level,” Guardiola told the BBC on Saturday.
Guardiola was in awe of Haaland’s execution of his second goal, which he acrobatically volleyed home off a cross from Jack Grealish.
“It is not easy to pick the ball up in the sky and put it on the grass,” Guardiola said. “You can’t imagine at his height he has this ability. Exceptional goal.”
Advertisement · Scroll to continue
The 22-year-old, who joined City from Borussia Dortmund, is now four short of the record of 34 goals in a Premier League season set by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole.
City are second in the league with 67 points after 29 games, five behind leaders Arsenal.
More Stories
Mercedes Fear ‘Circus’ Crane Operator Exposed Car Secrets
Bayern Sack CEO Kahn, Sports Director Salihamidzic After Title Win-Club
Munster Win URC Championship With Late Try To Beat Holders Stormers
Verstappen Takes First Monaco Pole As Perez Crashes
Zhou Collects Four Pitlane Penalties in A Single Session
City’s Haaland Named Premier League Player Of The Season
Hamilton Rumours All Part Of F1’s Fuelled-Up ‘Silly Season’
Chennai Stand Between Gujarat And IPL History
Yorke Wants More United Treble Recognition As City Hype Builds
U.S. Mountaineer Climbs Rare Everest ‘Triple Crown’ As Death Toll Reaches 12
I Would Drive Him Myself – Klopp Says If Any Player Exits Over Champions League
Ten Hag Backs Sancho To Excel At Man Utd