Haaland has now reached the level of Messi and Ronaldo: Guardiola

The Chronify

November 4, 2025

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has said that his team's Norwegian striker Erling Haaland has now reached the level of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of goal-scoring.

In last Saturday’s 3-1 victory against Bournemouth, Manchester City secured the win thanks to a brace from Haaland. This season, he has scored 11 goals so far, keeping him at the top of the Premier League Golden Boot race, while the next four players have scored only six goals each.

Haaland is now just two goals away from reaching the 100-goal milestone in the league for Manchester City. According to Guardiola, in terms of goal consistency and reliability, Haaland is exactly at the level where Messi and Ronaldo were at their peak.

“He is having an impact just like Messi and Ronaldo,” says Messi’s former coach Guardiola. He added, “We played brilliantly, and of course, Haaland was decisive. It’s a bit like playing with Messi or Ronaldo, you know? Their influence on the pitch is just that enormous.”

He further adds, “If you look at the kid’s (Haaland) stats oh my God! He has definitely reached the level of Messi and Ronaldo’s numbers. The only difference is that Messi and Ronaldo have been doing it for 15 years. Messi is still playing in MLS, scoring two or three goals every day. Ronaldo is doing the same in the Saudi league.”

According to Guardiola, it is Haaland’s hunger for goals and eagerness to learn that has brought him to this level. “The way he takes shots, the way he strikes the ball along the ground… it feels like he’s going to score. I’ve said many times, he is incredibly coachable. I can be tough on him sometimes; but he is attentive, humble, and lives only to score goals.”

Haaland’s statistics are astonishing.

For Manchester City, Haaland has scored 98 goals in 107 matches, bringing him to the doorstep of becoming the fastest player in Premier League history to reach 100 goals. The current record is held by Alan Shearer, who scored 100 goals in 124 matches.

Next Sunday, Manchester City will face Liverpool at the Etihad. This match will play a crucial role in determining Arsenal’s main rival in the title race.

Guardiola said, “Arsenal is in great form right now, but I feel our team is getting better every day. There are still 28 matches left, and a lot can happen.”

After the match against Bournemouth, Guardiola expressed his displeasure regarding referee Anthony Taylor. He said, “We conceded a goal that was an unbelievable mistake by the referee. I’ve been here for ten years and know what happens to us. Still, I’m proud of what we have achieved.”