Manchester City talisman Erling Haaland stole all the headlines last week after scoring an incredible eight goals in two matches as the Blues progressed to the next stages of the Champions League and FA Cup.
The Norway international, who pulled out of the national team squad this week with injury, scored five in a European demolition of RB Leipzig before hitting three against Burnley on domestic duty. It prompted City legend and Clarets boss Vincent Kompany to draw parallels between the 22-year-old and the greats of the game.
"I have played against the greats of the time, Messi, Ronaldinho, [Zinedine] Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo. . . in the end they are part of a very special elite because I think even the very best find it very difficult to stop those guys no matter what you say," said Kompany.
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"Someone like Erling will keep finding a way. The biggest thing for me is that it looks like his game can still improve and that is maybe the difference with the other superstars, he is a superstar who is still willing to improve and that is exciting to see.
"I think the goalscoring record in general puts you in a certain bracket, I don’t need to say any more than you showing his record of goals. That is the hardest part of the game.
"But I see the mindset to improve. His game has improved from when he arrived six months ago and if he continues to do that he is going to have to (be one of the all-time greats), this is not something you experience a lot."
Haaland has already surpassed 40 goals this term and could conceivably reach 60 before the campaign is out. In modern day terms would put him alongside Ronaldo and Messi who both went past that landmark in Spain. Here's how the City striker compares to Messi's stunning 2011-12 season and Ronaldo's prolific 2014-15 campaign.
Erling Haaland - Manchester City - 2022/23
Goals 42, games 37
Haaland has started 35 times for City this term and has already hit six hat-tricks. His record since arriving in Manchester is phenomenal and he's averaging a goal every 68 minutes. He's nailed on to win the Premier League golden boot having racked up 28 goals already, and has added 10 in the Champions League plus four in the domestic cup competitions. Six have come the penalty spot and City remain in contention for three trophies as the Norway international bids to make it an incredible debut year at the Etihad.
Cristiano Ronaldo - Real Madrid - 2014/15
Goals 61, games 54
An incredible individual season for the former Manchester United man when he smashed in 48 La Liga goals. It was enough to make him Spain's top scorer that term but remarkably not enough to fire Real to the title as they finished second to Barcelona.
Haaland has already matched Ronaldo's Champions League tally, with Madrid reaching the last four that year, and the Norwegian has a better minutes per goal ratio with the Portugal legend finding the net every 76 minutes on average that season.
Ronaldo plundered eight hat-tricks and 13 penalties, while his tally of 23 assists showed an all-round game Haaland won't match. But the now Al-Nassr man only had the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup to show for his efforts come the season's end.
Lionel Messi - Barcelona - 2011/12
Goals 73, games 60
A simply staggering goal tally that came in just 56 starts and saw Messi net a half century in La Liga alone. He added 14 more in the Champions League, but his tally is boosted by a hat-trick in the Spanish Super Cup as well as a UEFA Super Cup goal and two in the Club World Cup - competitions Haaland does not feature in.
Messi, who also scored 14 penalties that term, ended the campaign with a goal every 72 minutes and a remarkable 32 assists. But again, he didn't lift the league title, as Barcelona finished second under Guardiola to Real, or the Champions League, where Chelsea beat them in the semi-finals. The Argentine had to make do with the domestic and European Super Cups, three Club World Cup and the Copa del Rey.
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