Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has made Champions League history by becoming the fastest player ever to reach 50 goals in the competition.
The Norwegian forward reached the milestone on Thursday night after opening the scoring in City’s 2–0 victory over Napoli at the Etihad Stadium.
Haaland’s first-half header not only set City on the path to securing three crucial points but also etched his name into the record books. The goal marked his 50th in the UEFA Champions League — achieved in just 49 appearances, making him the quickest player in the tournament’s history to hit the half-century mark.
The previous record was held by Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who took 62 matches to reach 50 goals while playing for clubs including Manchester United and Real Madrid.
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Haaland’s achievement also puts him ahead of global football icons such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of speed to the 50-goal mark. While Messi reached the milestone in 66 games, he remains the youngest to do so — at 24 years and 284 days. However, Haaland, now 25, has overtaken Kylian Mbappé to become the second-youngest player to reach the landmark.
The feat adds yet another accolade to Haaland’s already extraordinary career. Since joining Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund, the striker has consistently broken records, including the Premier League’s single-season goal tally and now, the fastest to 50 in Europe’s most prestigious club competition.
City manager Pep Guardiola hailed Haaland’s impact after the match, saying, “Erling is a goal machine. His hunger, his positioning, his mindset — it’s what makes him special. These kinds of records don’t come by chance.”
With City aiming to defend their Champions League crown, Haaland’s form will undoubtedly be crucial as the tournament progresses.
