Erling Haaland has been named by Wayne Rooney as the likely successor to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, signalling the end of the GOAT duo’s period.
Since switching from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City, Haaland has been on fire, shattering nearly every goal-scoring record in England and, by extension, Europe.
According to Transfermarkt, the Norwegian goal scorer has amassed an incredible 48 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions while also dishing out six assists, underscoring his outstanding play this season.
It thus comes as no surprise that Rooney reckons that Haaland is by far the best footballer on the planet presently.
“Erling Haaland is the best footballer in the world right now. Lionel Messi is the greatest but, at this moment, nobody is playing better than a striker who — even though I broke records in that position myself — takes my breath away with the levels he’s reaching,” the legendary Manchester United forward wrote in his column for The Times via Sportskeeda.
Rooney stressed: “He’s the best in the world because of the numbers he’s posting, the performances he’s putting in and the mentality he shows.”
Ronaldo and Messi era
The pair have shot their way to the top of the ‘greatest of all time’ conversation; no matter who you are, everyone has a preference – winning a combined 12 Ballon d’Or awards.
Some wonder at the machine-like athletic relentlessness of Cristiano Ronaldo’s out-and-out goalscoring, while others are lured by Lionel Messi’s God-given enchantment with the ball at his feet.
What’s next for Haaland?
The 22-year-old will hope to continue his breathtaking goalscoring form for Manchester City as Pep Guardiola’s charges chase the treble, with the club still in contention to win the English Premier League, the Emirates FA Cup and the elusive UEFA Champions League.
Cassano contradicts Rooney, blasts Haaland
While Rooney lauded Haaland, former Real Madrid striker Antonio Cassano has once again stirred up the hornet’s nest, this time training his guns on the Man City striker, Sports Brief reported.
The retired Italian international has claimed that the Manchester City striker does not know how to play football.
Going by Haaland’s numbers this season alone, it seems quite ironic for Cassano to level such a claim, but he insists he prefers strikers like Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema.