Manchester City striker becomes fastest player to 50 Champions League goals
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland reached another landmark on Thursday night, becoming the fastest player in history to score 50 goals in the Champions League.
The Norwegian headed City into the lead against Napoli at the Etihad Stadium, hitting the half-century mark in just his 49th appearance in the competition.
The previous record was held by Ruud van Nistelrooy, who needed 62 games, while Lionel Messi reached the milestone in 66.
Haaland, at 25, also overtakes Kylian Mbappe as the second-youngest to the tally, though Messi remains the youngest at 24 years and 284 days.
Haaland’s strike opened up the way to a comfortable 2-0 victory for the European champions, after Napoli, reduced to 10 men following Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s first-half red card for a foul on Haaland, had already been pinned back by the home side.
Jeremy Doku doubled the lead shortly after with a sublime move and finish, ensuring Pep Guardiola’s side made a winning start to their European campaign.
Haaland’s mile stone also moved him up the competition’s all-time scorers’ list, past Alfredo Di Stefano and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and level with Filippo Inzaghi on 50.
Only Thierry Henry, on 51, stands immediately ahead of him, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 141 and Messi’s 129 remain a long way off.
