Try GOLD - Free
Haaland can top Ronaldo's 140-goal mark: Guardiola
The Straits Times
|September 20, 2025
Manchester City's Erling Haaland shattered another scoring record in their 2-0 Champions League victory over visitors Napoli on Sept 18, and manager Pep Guardiola believes his talented striker might one day be the best player in Europe.
-
The 25-year-old Norwegian became the quickest player in Champions League history to hit 50 goals in what was his 49th appearance in Europe's elite competition when he cleverly headed home in the 56th minute.
He smashed the record held by former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who reached 50 goals in 62 games.
"The number speaks for itself," Guardiola said. "He's alongside, in terms of goals, with van Nistelrooy, (Robert) Lewandowski, but especially with the two monsters Cristiano (Ronaldo) and (Lionel) Messi over 15, 20 years. Erling is there. In terms of goals, it's unbelievable."
Ronaldo is the all-time Champions League top scorer with 140 goals. Asked if Haaland - given his numbers at such a young age - could one day top that mark, the City boss did not hesitate.
This story is from the September 20, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Straits Times
The Straits Times
'Be part of the solution': Lawyer fights for people with invisible disabilities
She envisions a more inclusive society for those with mental health conditions and special needs
3 mins
October 12, 2025
The Straits Times
LIFE-SIZE DINOS FOR SALE
The stegosaurus, almost 9m long and described as \"housebroken\", is selling for US$1,260 (S$1,620).
4 mins
October 12, 2025
The Straits Times
WOMEN GET BOOST FOR LA 2028
Ohanian's venture Athlos eyes higher profile, recognition for athletes and profitability too
3 mins
October 12, 2025
The Straits Times
CDCs stepping up efforts to help residents who are looking for jobs, encourage volunteerism
All five Community Development Councils (CDCs) will step up their efforts to support residents who are looking for jobs, as well as to encourage volunteerism in the community.
2 mins
October 12, 2025
The Straits Times
TBR (To Be Read) From Faulkner to Frank O'Hara, TV series Mad Men is a world of books
There are few more depressing experiences than bingeing on American producer Matthew Weiner's portrait of middle-class, middle-aged American men and women in 1960-set television series Mad Men (2007 to 2015).
2 mins
October 12, 2025
The Straits Times
Borderless wealth: Insurance as the driver of resilient and lasting wealth for HNWIs
HSBC Life is leveraging global expertise and local insights to help HNWIs diversify, protect and grow wealth
5 mins
October 12, 2025
The Straits Times
Bright spots in longevity, wealth transfer and legacy planning
Digital innovation will help the industry devise integrated protection and wealth solutions that anticipate and address the evolving needs of customers
12 mins
October 12, 2025
The Straits Times
Advantage Beijing in latest US-China spat
On Oct 10, Mr Trump shattered a fragile tariff truce between the world's two largest economies when he announced 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods on top of levies of about 57 per cent already in place. The provocation was China's decision a day earlier to further restrict the export of rare earth metals, indispensable to the high-tech economy.
4 mins
October 12, 2025
The Straits Times
Criminal syndicates tapping AI to improve their scams, human trafficking: Interpol
From chatbots to virtual assistants, artificial intelligence (AI) tools are used by scammers to lure victims, including those who may end up being trafficked to work at scam centres.
3 mins
October 12, 2025
The Straits Times
Legacy or loss? Insurance and the great wealth transfer
Because families are dynamic, insurance solutions must be able to accommodate shifts across borders, regulations and roles over decades.
4 mins
October 12, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size