Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola compares Erling Haaland to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, explaining that his current form places him alongside football’s greatest figures.
The Norwegian forward netted twice in City’s 3-1 victory over Bournemouth on Sunday, taking his tally to 26 goals for club and country this season.
The result helped the Sky Blues climb back into second place, keeping the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal.
“You see the numbers of that guy?” Guardiola said after the match. “Of course, he’s that level. Messi and Ronaldo have done it for 15 years, but this is the level.”
The City boss has rarely been shy in praising his strikers immense contribution, but this latest assessment placed the 25-year-old in truly elite company.
Having already scored 17 goals in just 13 domestic matches, Haaland is now within two goals of reaching 100 in the Premier League — a milestone achieved in record time if his current pace continues.
Speaking to ManCity.com after the win, Guardiola drew direct parallels between Haaland’s influence on matches and the game-defining presence of Messi and Ronaldo.
“This is what it’s like if you play with Messi or Ronaldo, his influence is so big,” Guardiola said. “You see the numbers of that guy? Of course, he’s that level.”
For Guardiola, who managed Messi at Barcelona during one of the most successful periods in the club’s history, the comparison carries considerable weight.
Messi and Ronaldo’s rivalry defined more than a decade of European football, producing unparalleled levels of consistency and excellence.
By suggesting Haaland belongs in the same conversation, the Catalan coach underlined just how significant the Norwegian’s arrival has been to Manchester City’s continued dominance.
Since joining the Sky Blues, Haaland has transformed City’s attack with his physicality, ruthless finishing, and instinctive positioning. His first goal against Bournemouth showcased the power and precision that have become his trademarks.
“The first goal, the way he shoots the ball, it’s like, ‘I am going to score’. He has that hunger. It’s top,” Guardiola noted.
Haaland’s hunger for goals has been evident ever since he burst onto the European scene as a teenager. His relentless drive and athleticism have made him one of the most feared forwards in world football.
Yet Guardiola insists it’s not just Haaland’s scoring ability that makes him special — it’s his attitude.
While praising his star striker, Guardiola also offered a glimpse into their working relationship. The City boss described Haaland as “incredibly coachable and manageable,” crediting the player’s willingness to learn despite already being among the world’s best.
“I am tough sometimes with Haaland, but he is open-minded,” Guardiola admitted. “He lives for the goals and sometimes the pressure cannot sustain 90 minutes, but that’s normal.”
Guardiola’s tough-love approach seems to be paying off. Haaland has continued to evolve tactically under the Spaniard, improving his link-up play and understanding of City’s fluid attacking system.
For all his reputation as a natural finisher, Haaland has also adapted to Guardiola’s intricate patterns of movement — a challenge many strikers have struggled with before him.
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“Without him, it would be tough to be honest,” Guardiola added, acknowledging just how central the forward has become to City’s success.
“But we are lucky that Omar [Marmoush] is back, and we have fit players. It’s good.”
Astonishingly, no other City player has scored more than once in the league this term. Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden, Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly have each contributed a solitary goal, while Burnley’s Maxime Esteve’s two own goals rank as City’s second-highest total scorer.a
As a result of the Norwegian striker, Pep Guardiola compares Erling Haaland to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. His dominance in front of goal mirrors the early peaks of Messi and Ronaldo, both of whom built their legacies on extraordinary consistency.
