Faster than Messi and Ronaldo: Haaland scores 50th Champions League goal in record time

Erling Haaland has smashed yet another record in European football, reaching his 50th Champions League goal quicker than any player in history.

The Manchester City striker hit the milestone in just 49 appearances, leaving behind legends like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the race to half a century.

On Thursday night against Napoli, Haaland found the net with a clever header that put him in elite company, but at a speed never seen before in the Champions League era.

The Norwegian marksman, who has been relentless since his days at RB Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund, has now carried that same ferocity into Manchester City’s frontline.

His tally of 50 goals in just 49 matches makes him the fastest ever to reach the mark, a record that even the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Messi, and Ronaldo couldn’t match.

For context, Messi needed 66 games to get to 50, while Ronaldo, who eventually became the competition’s all-time top scorer, only reached the milestone after 91 appearances.

While Haaland grabbed the headlines, Manchester City’s Champions League opener was more than just about records.

Facing Italian champions Napoli, Pep Guardiola’s men had to stay patient after a tight first half that ended goalless despite Napoli going down to 10 men when Giovanni Di Lorenzo saw red for a foul on Haaland.

The Cityzens turned up the tempo in the second half, and in the 56th minute, Haaland broke the deadlock. Just minutes later, Jeremy Doku doubled the advantage, sealing a 2-0 win for the former European champions.

The returning Kevin De Bruyne, facing his old club Napoli, had his night cut short due to the red card incident, while ex-Man United duo Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund featured for the Italians.