Manchester City striker Erling Haaland says he is “far away” from making comparisons with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Haaland is enjoying a fantastic season, scoring 17 goals in 13 matches in all competitions, including 13 goals in 10 Premier League matches.
His goalscoring record – averaging nearly a goal per game throughout his professional career – has led to the Norwegian being likened to all-time greats Messi and Ronaldo.
But the 25-year-old, who lost out to Messi in voting for the 2023 Ballon d’Or, insists he has not yet reached that level.
“No, not far at all. No one can get close to them, so no,” said Haaland, who will face his former club Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Haaland already holds the record for the number of goals in a single season in the English Premier League, with 36 goals in his first season at the Etihad Stadium.
He is on track to break that mark this season, although he insists he is “not thinking” about individual records.
The only standard he knows of is the Premier League record held by Alan Shearer.
Haaland has 98 Premier League goals, still a long way from Shearer’s tally of 260, but with time in his team to overcome.
“I know this record,” Haaland said.
“I don’t really know any records, but this is what I know.
“This is the record he (Shearer) set in the Premier League. I can’t think of any records I can break.
“This is the last thing I think about. I’m trying to help the team win football games. This is my job and this is my main focus.
“I know it’s boring, and I know you want me to say the exact opposite, but it’s not.”
Haaland is entering his fourth season at City after moving from Dortmund in 2022
In the summer, he was named as part of Guardiola’s leadership group – the first time in his managerial career that the City manager has chosen the captains himself.
Speaking about Haaland, Guardiola said he is an ideal leader in the dressing room because he remains “humble” off the pitch despite all his success off it.
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“It is difficult to find a true world-class player who is incredibly humble,” Guardiola said.
“I knew he would score goals and have an impact on the team, but I had the feeling that he always had his eye on what was best for the team.
“It’s hard to find that in players with that ability. Erling is like that. It was a surprise because strikers usually only think about goals.”
