50 Not Out: Does Erling Haaland Have What It Takes to Become the Champions League's Record Scorer?

50 Not Out: Does Erling Haaland Have What It Takes to Become the Champions League's Record Scorer?

Erling Haaland has done it again - no surprises there. Despite his Champions League debut coming just over six years ago, the Norwegian record-breaking machine swooped to the top of yet another high-caliber leaderboard last night with his goal against Napoli - he became the fastest man to reach 50 Champions League goals.

🚨 Erling Haaland becomes the fastest player ever to reach 50 Champions League goals.

Job done in 49 (!) games. 🤖 pic.twitter.com/IsIvUX4xBc

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 18, 2025

An outstanding record in its own right, the context of the achievement cannot be understated - averaging more than a goal per game, he got to the magic half century in just 49 games. This is 13 games faster than previous record holder Ruud van Nistelrooy took to get there, 17 faster than Lionel Messi, and a whopping 42 games fewer than the competition's record goal-scorer Cristiano Ronaldo.

With his first major UCL scoring milestone behind him, Haaland will now have his eyes firmly set on the future. Already tied for ninth in the all-time list, the 25-year-old is showing no signs of slowing down - if anything, he is hitting new heights this season.

And this got us wondering - can the Scandinavian Destroyer bulldoze his way to the top of the list? There is a long way to go, but Haaland has set the precedent for a potentially unparalleled career at the very top of the game.

The Numbers

Firstly, let's break down his 50 Champions League goals so far. Since his electric introduction to Europe’s premier competition with RB Salzburg back in 2019, it has been clear that Haaland was purpose-built for Champions League football. Eight goals in six games in a group which featured Napoli and Liverpool caught the attention of virtually the whole European continent, and there were countless suitors chasing his signature.

Erling Haaland (19 tahun) debut Champions League = Hattrick ⚽️⚽️⚽️

Saat ini Haaland telah mengoleksi 49 gol dalam 48 games UCL sejak debutnya pada 17 September 2019.
8 Gol: RB Salzburg
15 Gol: Dortmund
26 Gol: Man City
1 Trophy Juara 2023 🏆pic.twitter.com/7ddjBLsDub

— Siaran Bola Live (@SiaranBolaLive) September 16, 2025

Opting to move to Borussia Dortmund that January, Haaland continued to demolish Europe’s finest defenses, netting two knockout goals in as many games before Der BVB were eliminated. It was the next season that the Norwegian truly shoved his unrivaled potency in front of goal into the spotlight.

10 goals in just eight UCL games saw him clinch the golden boot despite falling to Manchester City in the quarter finals, and while he only played three UCL games in 2021/22, he still averaged one per game, and with 29 goals on 30 games across all competitions that season, a move to his father Alf’s former club Manchester City beckoned.

🇳🇴💥 #GoalOfTheDay | Erling Haaland vs PSG (2020) pic.twitter.com/dQ0rbHHU6c

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) May 14, 2025

Under Pep Guardiola, Haaland hit a new level in 2022/23: he netted 12 UCL goals in just 10 games, scooped up another golden boot, and showed that his early promise at Dortmund and Salzburg was not just respective flashes in the pan.

He netted six more European goals as City conquered Europe for the first time in their history, and though many of the accolades went to 2024 Ballon d’Or winner and scorer of the decisive goal in the final, Rodri, Haaland was a focal point in their run to the final.

Eight goals in nine games last season as City underperformed was an impressive return, and his first goal of this campaign’s Champions League run, a classic run off the last defender and a looping header over Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, earned Haaland his 50. A raise of the bat, a nod to the pavilion, and then, in typical Haaland fashion, back to business.

Phil Foden's pass on Erling Haaland's goal against Napoli is exceptional. 🪄🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿pic.twitter.com/yWXpTpbtUA

— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) September 19, 2025

So Can He Break the All-Time Scoring Record?

At 25, Haaland has everything in his toolkit to break every individual record going - seemingly immune to injuries, Haaland is almost guaranteed 50+ games a season at this stage in his career, giving him the ample platform to mount his assault on various awards and achievements.

Fitness will be crucial - if the striker were to play 12 games per Champions League season for the next 7 years, and maintain his goal-per-game average across this time, he would find himself on 134 UCL goals; for context, that is a mere six behind Ronaldo’s leading tally of 140.

Erling Haaland's numbers in the Champions League are incredible. 🩵 pic.twitter.com/fulFSCFRVQ

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) September 18, 2025

Of course, to stay fit for this long and consistently maintain the same absurd form week in and week out is a big ask, but as long as he is match fit, Haaland is the first name on the team sheet for every side on the planet. Plus, he is built like Thor himself, and injuries have never been a major problem for him.

Also in his favor is the way that Manchester City like to play - making him the end point of every attacking move, Haaland has six goals in five games across all competitions this season (this is excluding the Club World Cup), and his penalty box instinct and ability to find space with his runs seems to have been honed over the summer.

Erling Haaland now has 3 of the 4 highest npxG games on the season:

- Haaland vs. Wolves: 1.99
- Haaland vs. United: 1.88
- Ismaila Sarr vs. Villa: 1.43
- Haaland vs. Brighton: 1.40

Simply unstoppable. pic.twitter.com/5lH900AO3d

— Spencer Mossman (@fc_mossman) September 15, 2025

Should he remain at City - which he will for as long as Pep Guardiola is there for - then his chances of breaking a seemingly unbreakable record will be greatly improved.

The final thing in his favour that could take him to the pinnacle of Champions League goalscoring is how well-rounded Haaland is. Ronaldo was best known for cutting in from the right flank and hammering a right-footed shot in a corner of his choosing, but bar a couple of headers and the rare left-footed goal, the manner of the Portuguese legend's goals rarely changed.

Not so with Haaland - the man can finish with his weak foot, head, shoulder, knee, and any number of acrobatic moves you care to mention, as well has owning a left boot crafted by the same entity that gave Thor his hammer.

🤯 Erling Haaland scored this OUTRAGEOUS goal against Borussia Dortmund, #OnThisDay in 2022!
pic.twitter.com/DJjowSX0JF

— City Report (@cityreport_) September 13, 2025

That left foot has been responsible for 34 of his 50 Champions League goals, while his right foot has netted 11 - not bad for a weak foot - and his head has contributed to five. The only reason he has not scored more headed goals is down to Pep Guardiola’s style of play. Instead of launching aerial crosses into the box, City prefer the intricate, quick, one-touch buildup.

But should Guardiola have a sudden change of heart over his tactics, Haaland would be equally dangerous trying to latch on to crosses with his 194 cm frame, perhaps even more so.

Already one of the most potent strikers of this generation, Haaland has 312 senior goals to his name across just six years - I realize I haven’t even mentioned his 48 goals in 45 games for the national team - and will only get better and better with time as his experience grows.

And with this in mind, that infamous Champions League scoring record, which sits 90 goals above the Norwegian secret weapon, suddenly seems under threat. Not an immediate threat, but a threat that will become more and more real as the years go by.

It is unlikely that if Haaland reaches this milestone that he will be considered alongside Messi and Ronaldo as the greatest players of all time - after all, both of his predecessors played in different positions and performed very different roles. However, whether he would certainly be considered the best striker of all time, both in the modern day as well as in history.

The perfect all-round striker, capable of linking up play, drawing defenders to open up chances for teammates, and being able to finish almost any chance 99% of the time, Haaland has plenty of time left, and with the way things have gone in the six years since he truly announced himself to the world, he is destined for greatness.