Two strikers in world football come close to Erling Haaland says Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes Erling Haaland can only be compared to two strikers in world football at present.

The Norwegian forward continues to be the centrepiece of Guardiola’s attack, with his prolific scoring record keeping him firmly in the conversation as one of the best players currently in the game.

Since arriving at Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, Haaland has broken numerous domestic and European records, including – most recently – overtaking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the most prolific Norwegian goalscorer in Premier League history.

Across his three seasons in England so far, Erling Haaland has developed a reputation for not only shattering individual records but also for being decisive in Manchester City’s pursuit of silverware. His goals have propelled the club to consecutive league triumphs and a Champions League title, firmly establishing him as a generational figure under Guardiola’s management.

The recent 5–1 win over Burnley, in which Erling Haaland scored twice late on, highlighted once again his unmatched ability to turn games in Manchester City’s favour, while his consistency has drawn inevitable comparisons with footballing icons from previous eras.

While Guardiola has always been keen to avoid placing premature labels on his star striker, there is a growing sense within European football that Erling Haaland is on a path towards achieving longevity comparable with the game’s greatest names.

Speaking during a recent press conference, Pep Guardiola was quizzed on whether he has ever come across anyone in his top-level managerial career who can be deemed as prolific as his star Manchester City striker.

“[Lionel] Messi, Cristiano [Ronaldo], right? In terms of goals, yeah [he should be compared to them],” Guardiola first responded.

The Manchester City boss continued, “At his age, maybe the numbers are better, but yeah, in terms of goals; him, Harry Kane, [Robert] Lewandowski, maybe, you know, these kind of guys.

“But it’s two months, [and] Messi and Cristiano have been doing [it for] 15, 20 years, every season. But Erling is still young, and yeah, he’s at that level. In terms of goals, he’s at that level.”

Guardiola’s remarks will only add fuel to the ongoing speculation surrounding Haaland’s future, particularly with clubs such as Barcelona and Real Madrid continuously tied to interest in the player through Spanish media reports.

For City supporters, however, the focus remains on the present with Haaland already among their all-time top goalscorers, generating a belief among fans that he could redefine what it means to be a Premier League forward if he continues on this trajectory.

The comparisons with the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Kane, and Lewandowski suggest Pep Guardiola sees him not just as a dominant striker of his era, but potentially as the player to carry forward football’s golden standard of goalscoring into the next generation.