Erling Haaland has done it again, and this time the numbers alone are enough to make even football’s greatest names feel very small. On a loud, electric afternoon at the Etihad Stadium, the Manchester City striker continued his unbelievable rise by overtaking Cristiano Ronaldo’s Premier League goal tally, doing so in a way that felt almost unreal. It was fast, ruthless, and perfectly fitting for a player who seems to treat history as something to be chased down and left behind.
The moment arrived almost before West Ham United had time to breathe. Just six minutes into the match, Haaland had already written his name into another record book. Manchester City were sharp from kick-off, playing with confidence and hunger, knowing that a win would push them to the top of the Premier League, at least for a few hours. The ball moved quickly, the tempo was high, and West Ham were immediately under pressure.
The move that led to the opening goal was simple, clean, and devastating. Nico O’Reilly and Phil Foden combined beautifully to slice open the West Ham defence. Foden, full of confidence and awareness, spotted Haaland in the box and squared the ball across goal. Haaland’s first effort was saved by Alphonse Areola, but the rebound fell straight back to him. There was no panic, no hesitation. He bundled the ball into the net, and just like that, the stadium erupted.
That goal was Haaland’s 103rd in the Premier League. With it, he drew level with Cristiano Ronaldo’s entire Premier League goal tally, achieved across two spells at Manchester United. The difference, though, was staggering. Ronaldo reached that number in 233 appearances. Haaland did it in 119 fewer games. The comparison alone tells a story that words struggle to fully capture.
For West Ham, it was a nightmare start. For Manchester City, it felt like destiny unfolding in real time. Haaland had not only scored early, he had done it against one of his favourite opponents. West Ham have suffered repeatedly at his hands, and this match quickly became another chapter in that painful story. This goal was his sixth in his last three appearances against the Hammers, a record that speaks to just how uncomfortable he makes them feel every time they face him.
At just 25 years old, Haaland is already operating in a space usually reserved for legends nearing the end of their careers. His Premier League tally continues to grow at a speed that defies logic. That opening goal against West Ham took him to 148 goals in 169 games in a Manchester City shirt, an incredible return that places him among the most deadly forwards the club, and the league, have ever seen. And he was not done.
As the game went on, City maintained their grip. They controlled possession, moved the ball with patience, and waited for openings. West Ham tried to respond, but every mistake, every loose pass, felt like it could be punished instantly. Midway through the second half, that fear became reality once again.
Poor defending from the visitors handed Haaland another opportunity, and he does not need many invitations. He pounced, finishing with the cold efficiency that has become his trademark. The Etihad roared again. GOAL. Another one. Another record pushed further out of reach.
That second goal of the afternoon carried even more significance. It took Haaland past Manchester City legend Francis Lee in the club’s all-time goalscoring charts. Only six players in City’s history have now scored more goals for the club than him. Considering how short his time in England has been, that fact alone is astonishing.
But the comparisons did not stop there. With his 103rd Premier League goal, Haaland not only matched Ronaldo, he also equalled one of football’s most famous icons in Manchester itself. Ronaldo, the red side’s hero, reached that milestone at the age of 37, scoring his 103rd league goal in a 2-1 win over Everton early in the 2022/23 season. By then, Ronaldo was nearing the end of his Premier League journey. He would make just three more top-flight appearances before his explosive fallout with Erik ten Hag led to his departure from Manchester United. Haaland, by contrast, feels like he is only getting started.
The Norwegian now has his sights set firmly on another legend, Sergio Aguero. City’s all-time great striker reached 150 Premier League goals, and Haaland is rapidly closing in on that landmark. Given the number of appearances he still has ahead of him, and the rate at which he scores, the question is no longer if he will break that record, but when.
What makes Haaland’s rise even more frightening is the consistency. Since arriving in England in the summer of 2022, he has been a goalscoring machine without pause. In his debut Premier League season, he smashed 36 goals, breaking the record for most goals in a single campaign. Many wondered if that level was sustainable. Haaland answered those doubts the following season by winning another Golden Boot, scoring 27 goals in just 31 league games, and 38 in 45 matches across all competitions.
Even during Manchester City’s well-documented struggles last season, when injuries and form issues disrupted the team, Haaland still managed to score 34 goals in 48 matches. While others faltered, he kept delivering. Goals followed him regardless of circumstances.
Now, in the 2025/26 season, he looks sharper than ever. His brace against West Ham took his tally to 25 goals in 23 matches in all competitions. Against the Hammers alone, he now has 11 goals in just seven games. For West Ham fans, his name has become a symbol of dread.
There is something almost unfair about the way Haaland combines size, speed, strength, and finishing. He runs like a sprinter, holds off defenders like a seasoned target man, and finishes chances with both power and calm. Goalkeepers know what is coming, defenders know what is coming, yet stopping him remains a near-impossible task.
Pep Guardiola has often spoken about how special Haaland is, not just because of his goals, but because of his mentality. He wants to score every chance. He wants more even after scoring twice. That hunger, that obsession with improvement, is what separates the very good from the truly great.
Against West Ham, that hunger was clear from the first minute. Haaland was alert, aggressive, and constantly on the move. He pressed defenders, attacked space, and never allowed them a moment of comfort. His goals were not just moments of brilliance; they were the result of relentless pressure and perfect timing.
As the final whistle approached, the scoreline reflected City’s dominance, but the headlines belonged to Haaland. Once again, he had turned a normal league match into a historic occasion. Records that once seemed untouchable are now falling one by one in his wake.
The comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo will continue, and rightly so. Ronaldo defined an era with his goals, athleticism, and mentality. But what Haaland is doing in the Premier League, at this speed and with this consistency, is forcing a new conversation. He is not just matching legends; he is outpacing them.
For Manchester City fans, there is a sense of privilege in watching this unfold. Every match feels like it could bring another milestone, another piece of history. For rivals, it is a growing frustration. How do you stop someone who seems built to score goals in every possible way?
As the Premier League season moves forward, the focus will remain on the title race, on tactics, injuries, and pressure. But hovering above it all is Erling Haaland, calmly rewriting what is possible. He has already overtaken one of football’s greatest icons in record time, and he shows no sign of slowing down. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL ERLING HAAALAND SCORES AGAIN ⚽
For Manchester City, for the Premier League, and for football history itself, this feels like just another step in a journey that is far from finished.
