Manchester City’s Champions League opener against Napoli was billed as the return of Kevin De Bruyne to the Etihad. However, as the night progressed, it ultimately became the night for Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker once again etched his name into the record books. He became the fastest player to score 50 goals in the history of the competition.
Haaland struck in the second half, rising to meet Phil Foden’s clever pass. He nodded the ball past Vanja Milinković-Savić, who had frustrated City throughout the first 45 minutes with a string of stunning saves. His goal broke the deadlock in City’s 2-0 win. And it also cemented his legacy as one of the most clinical finishers the tournament has ever seen.
Haaland’s 50th Champions League goal came in just his 49th appearance. He has surpassed Ruud van Nistelrooy’s previous record of 62 games. Lionel Messi needed 66 matches to reach the milestone. Meanwhile Robert Lewandowski required 77 games.
Kylian Mbappe hit the half-century in 79 games. At 25, Haaland is also the second-youngest player to reach 50 goals, behind only Messi. His Champions League tally includes 27 goals for City, 15 for Borussia Dortmund, and eight for RB Salzburg.
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That journey began with a debut hat-trick for Salzburg against Genk in 2019. He has since featured remarkable performances, including his five-goal display against RB Leipzig in 2023. He even plundered 12 goals during City’s glorious 2022-23 campaign.
That was the season when Pep Guardiola’s side lifted the trophy for the first time. With this landmark, Haaland has broken into the all-time top 10 Champions League scorers. He moved past Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano (49 goals) and drew level with Thierry Henry (50).
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Beyond the statistics, Haaland’s impact has been defined by consistency and versatility. Of his 50 goals, 34 have come with his left foot, 11 with his right, and five with his head. Almost all were scored inside the box. While he has been prolific against sides like Sevilla and Leipzig, Real Madrid remain one of the few teams to blunt his influence.
He has remained scoreless in four out of five meetings with Los Blancos. Yet, as Thursday night showed, Haaland continues to evolve. He is now boasting the best minutes-per-goal rate (78.7) in the competition’s history. For City, his milestone was more than just a record or a win. It meant a brilliant and memorable start to their UCL 2025-26 campaign.
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