Erling Haaland has the “perfect mindset,” according to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, to compete with all-time greats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of goals scored.
The 22-year-old increased his goal total for the season to 44 after scoring twice in Saturday’s 4-1 victory at Southampton for City, which pulled them to within five points of league leaders Arsenal.
As Haaland scored either side of Jack Grealish’s 58th-minute goal, he joined Andrew Cole and Kevin Phillips as the only players to reach 30 league goals in their first Premier League season. Following Sekou Mara’s consolation goal for the hosts at Saint Mary’s Stadium, substitute Julian Alvarez added a late penalty.
In their illustrious careers, Messi and Ronaldo have combined for more than 800 goals, and both are still active in their mid-to late-thirties.
Yet Guardiola, who oversaw Messi for four years at Barca until 2012, thinks Haaland, who cost €60 million to acquire from Borussia Dortmund last summer, is showing traits that the renowned pair do. Haaland has already scored 200 goals in 244 games for his career.
“It takes a lot of work to get to Cristiano and Messi’s level,” remarked Guardiola.
“They never suffered any harm. Erling stands very tall. He’s a giant. So the physiotherapists must give him a lot of attention. He has the right attitude now that I’ve met him, though. He has the correct frame of mind.
“His passions are professionalism and competition. Even during training sessions, I can see his response when he misses goals. Yet, after five minutes of frustration, he returns and completes the task at hand.
“Like Ronaldo and Messi, he puts pressure on himself. What’s the issue, what’s the issue? he cries when he doesn’t score two or three goals. The statistics he possesses at his age are incredible.
“Erling has scored goals in a number of games throughout the course of his professional career that are comparable to those of Messi and Ronaldo.
“Messi is a more complete player, in my opinion. Because he is familiar with the game, he can play anywhere.
“Haaland and Cristiano, the other two, operate like a machine. Erling is aware that the other two have been in charge for twenty years, not just one.
“They have accomplished everything—scoring goals, winning championships, and more. Ronaldo and Messi have improved football, in my opinion, through their work in the big clubs’ competitive business.
“Erling, who is only 22 years old, competes in the most difficult league in the world. Because I’ve played in other leagues, I can speak. He is amazing for accomplishing what he is doing.”