November 3, 2025 | 03:57 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes Erling Haaland has reached the same level of goal-scoring productivity as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
His remarks came after Haaland netted twice to lead City to a 3–1 win over Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, November 2, 2025.
The brace strengthened Haaland’s position atop the Premier League Golden Boot race with 11 goals this season. He now sits five goals clear of four players tied on six, and is just two goals away from hitting the 100-goal mark for City in the Premier League.
Guardiola said Haaland’s presence on the pitch reminds him of his experiences coaching or facing Messi and Ronaldo at their peak.
“We played really good of course again, Erling was decisive,“ Guardiola said. “It's a little like when you play with Messi or Cristiano, you know? The influence is so big.“
"Has he reached that level? You see the numbers of that guy? Oh my God, yeah, of course he's at their levels of the numbers from Cristiano and Messi. The difference of Cristiano and Messi, they have been doing it for 15 years,“ he added.
"But he's at that level and without him, it would be tough."
According to Guardiola, Haaland’s success stems from his relentless hunger for goals and eagerness to improve.
“The way he shoots the ball, right? He shoots the ball, goes down the grass. it's like, 'I'm going to score'. I have said many times, he is incredibly coachable and I am tough with him sometimes,” Guardiola said.
Despite Manchester City currently sitting second in the standings, six points behind leaders Arsenal, Guardiola remains optimistic.
“I had the feeling since the World Cup that we were in that moment. But it's just ten games, still 28 to play, many things are going to happen and feel that the team is getting better and better,” he said.
“Hopefully Arsenal can concede one goal one day.”
With 98 goals in 107 appearances, Haaland is now on the verge of becoming the fastest player to reach 100 goals in the Premier League, potentially surpassing Alan Shearer’s record of 124 matches.
Editor’s Choice: Top 10 Best Football Players in the World for the 2025 Season
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Top 10 Best Football Players in the World for the 2025 Season
4 hari lalu
A new era of brilliance unfolds as the best football players in the world continue to dominate the world stage with unmatched mastery.
Lionel Messi Remains Undecided Over a 2026 World Cup Return
6 hari lalu
Lionel Messi is weighing physical and mental factors before representing Argentina in the 2026 World Cup. He aims to defend the title.
Indonesia U-17 Loss to Paraguay 'No Cause for Concern,' Says PSSI Official
6 hari lalu
PSSI's Sumardji said Indonesia U-17's 1-2 loss to Paraguay isn't a concern, stressing focus on executing coach Nova Arianto's tactics.
Alex Pastoor Breaks Silence on Patrick Kluivert's Dismissal from Indonesia National Team
12 hari lalu
Dutch coach Alex Pastoor served as an assistant to Patrick Kluivert, who was newly appointed as the head coach in early 2025.
Erick Thohir Tight-Lipped on Replacement for Patrick Kluivert
13 hari lalu
Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir insisted he was speaking solely in his capacity as a minister, not PSSI chairperson.
Why Spain Are Once Again the Benchmark of World Football
16 hari lalu
With Spain holding the current top rank in FIFA, Willy Sagnol commented on the domination of La Roja under coach Luis de la Fuente.
Palace Urges PSSI to Find Immediate Replacement for Patrick Kluivert
17 hari lalu
The government has welcomed the decision by the PSSI to part ways with national football team coach Patrick Kluivert.
Patrick Kluivert Sacked as Indonesia National Team Coach After Failing to Qualify for 2026 World Cup
18 hari lalu
The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) announced the dismissal of Patrick Kluivert on its official account on Thursday, October 16, 2025.
South Korea's Ulsan HD Fires Shin Tae-yong After String of Poor Performances
24 hari lalu
Under Shin Tae-yong, Ulsan only managed to secure two victories out of ten matches in all competitions.
FIFA Sanctions Seven Naturalized Players and Malaysian Football Association
26 hari lalu
FIFA has released their findings on the forgery scandal involving the naturalization documents of seven Indonesian national team players. What are the findings?
