Haaland: Still Miles From Messi and Ronaldo, Yet He Keeps Scoring Anyway
4 November 2025
Haaland: Still Far From Messi and Ronaldo
Norwegian striker Erling Haaland says he remains far from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, despite posting record numbers in recent seasons.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund, Haaland touched on his level, ambitions, and his personality on and off the pitch.
When asked about breaking numbers, Haaland kept a smile and avoided arrogance, noting he never fixes his gaze on a single record.
He highlighted that he has scored 57 goals in total for club and country in the 2022-23 season and added that he is in good form, but not preoccupied with those figures.
On how he approaches games, he said the previous match is in the past and tomorrow is what matters, signaling a focused mindset on the present.
Haaland spoke about his ongoing development as a center forward, saying he feels he is improving, taking care of himself, and staying in top shape.
He explained the robot celebration from the latest win and hinted he does not plan celebrations in advance, preferring to react after scoring and see what happens.
He noted that he began practicing heading as a youngster with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Mark Dempsey and keeps working to improve this skill.
Regarding defensive duties, he admitted that it is not his favorite task and would rather stay in the box, but he will do whatever helps the team.
When asked about Pep Guardiola calling him humble, Haaland said that being Norwegian makes it natural to stay grounded and never act above others just because he scores.
On the subject of Premier League records, such as Alan Shearer’s all-time tally, he said he tries to ignore them and focus on helping City win games.
He also touched on his physical and mental state after a short pre-season and said he felt a surge of energy from the start of preparations.
Asked if he sees himself on par with Messi and Ronaldo, he replied that it is not the case and that no one is yet close to those legends.
Looking ahead to Norway, Haaland emphasized his goal of leading his country to a World Cup and the European Championship, noting their last World Cup appearance was in 1998, two years before his birth.
He recalled following major leagues since childhood, citing the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as a defining memory from when he was ten years old.
About his time at Dortmund, Haaland said he remains grateful for friends and memories, calling Dortmund a great club with wonderful people.
He praised France’s Ryan Cherki as a talented teammate with extraordinary passing ability and expressed a wish to help him grow into a top player in the free-creative role.
Becoming a father changed his life, Haaland admitted, noting that a little one wakes him up every morning and helps sharpen his focus between life and football.
He cited improved awareness for offside calls since joining City, with around 18 offsides recently, and highlighted how VAR has made him more precise in attack.
In closing, Haaland insisted that City must win every match and improve in big moments, especially in the Champions League, and he looks forward to the Dortmund test tomorrow.
Punchline time, because even world-class strikers need a laugh: Haaland is so focused that his GPS says target ahead and the crowd hears a chorus of goals. And if the scoreboard ever rebels, well, it’s probably just buffering the next finish in 4K clarity.
