Erling Haaland scored his 100th Premier League goal for Manchester City in a thrilling 5-4 win away against Fulham on Tuesday night.
Not only did he reach this milestone, but he did so in record-breaking style. He needed just 111 games to reach a century and shatter Alan Shearer’s previous record of 124.
For comparison, here is a list of the fastest players to reach 100 Premier League goals:
1. Erling Haaland – 111 games
2. Alan Shearer – 124 games
3. Harry Kane – 141 games
4. Sergio Agüero – 147 games
5. Thierry Henry – 160 games
6. Mohamed Salah – 162 games
7. Ian Wright – 173 games
8. Robbie Fowler – 175 games
9. Les Ferdinand – 178 games
=10. Michael Owen – 185 games
=10. Andrew Cole – 185 games
How did Haaland Break Shearer’s record so fast?
Needless to say, Erling Haaland is a goalscoring machine. The list shows that he is in esteemed company, and yet, he is miles ahead of them all.
Across all Manchester City competitions, the Norwegian has produced 144 goals and 24 assists in 165 appearances, for a total of 168 goal contributions.
One could argue that playing for this superb Manchester City team, managed by Pep Guardiola, enabled him to reach the milestone so quickly.
However, whilst playing for such a great club side has certainly helped, this argument falls apart when you realise that he has 55 goals in 48 appearances for Norway. This is a nation that last competed at a World Cup in 1998 (before Erling Haaland was born).
I would argue that Haaland’s blend of pace, power, movement, and elite finishing makes him a consistent goal threat in any team. His professionalism off the pitch only elevates him further – from ice baths and proper recovery to disciplined sleep routines and a strict diet, he does everything required to stay at peak performance.
As a result of his incredible goalscoring, Norway have finally qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, topping their group after defeating Italy 4-1 away at the San Siro. Guess who scored two goals?
Haaland’s Phenomenal Goalscoring Record
Even in the Champions League, Haaland’s goalscoring form is mindblowing. The 25-year-old holds the record as the fastest player to reach 50 goals in the Champions League (49 games).
When you look at his goalscoring record at his previous two clubs, Borussia Dortmund and RB Salzburg, the numbers remain as astounding as ever.
Across all competitions for Borussia Dortmund, Haaland scored 86 goals in 89 appearances and provided 23 assists. This is a total of 112 goal contributions in just 89 games. And remember: he achieved all of this between the ages of 19 and 21.
During his time at RB Salzburg, the Norwegian scored 29 goals in only 27 games, whilst also providing 7 assists. Oh, and he also scored a first-half hat-trick on his Champions League debut.
What does the future hold for Erling Haaland?
Erling Haaland’s future is perhaps as promising for a footballer as I have ever seen. He has already won multiple Premier League titles and a Champions League, yet his hunger for success remains undiminished.
If he stays at Manchester City until his contract expires in 2034, the Premier League’s all-time scoring record is firmly within his sights. Barring serious injury, I believe he has every chance of surpassing Alan Shearer’s all-time Premier League record of 260 goals.
With two Premier League Golden Boots already to his name, Haaland looks primed to collect a third this season. That would see him join Harry Kane and Alan Shearer on three, with only Henry and Salah ahead of him on four. At this rate, it feels inevitable that Haaland will surpass them all.
Many would argue he was unfortunate to miss out on the 2023 Ballon d’Or after delivering a historic treble with Manchester City and breaking the Premier League’s single-season scoring record with 36 goals.
He finished second to Lionel Messi, who had won the 2022 World Cup in December with a breathtaking player of the tournament performance, which earned him his second Golden Ball and, subsequently, his eighth Balon d’Or.
Haaland will almost certainly remain a major contender for future Ballon d’Or awards, competing with stars such as Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, and Lamine Yamal. To secure the award, he will likely need another Champions League triumph or a major international trophy with Norway, as goals alone are rarely enough.
Nevertheless, Haaland’s trajectory suggests no signs of decline. It would be no surprise to see him claim at least one Ballon d’Or in the future – and with it, plenty more trophies and an avalanche of goals.
