By Martin Graham
Erling Haaland surged past Alan Shearer’s long-standing milestone by hitting the 100-goal mark in fewer matches than any player since the Premier League began. His landmark strike arrived during Manchester City’s dramatic 5-4 triumph at Fulham on Tuesday.
The Manchester City forward, now 25, has enjoyed an outstanding campaign, registering 20 goals across 19 fixtures in every competition so far. His performance at Craven Cottage offered a swift response to a rare run of three matches without scoring, which came against Newcastle, Bayer Leverkusen, and Leeds.
Haaland ended that mini-drought by guiding in Jeremy Doku’s delivery during the opening period of a high-scoring contest. He later described the occasion as a major personal milestone, noting that scoring regularly is his primary duty as City’s central attacking outlet.
The Norwegian international, who was once eligible to represent England, thanked his teammates and expressed pride in achieving the century so quickly. He emphasized City’s expectations of their striker, adding that he embraces the responsibility of finishing chances.
Pep Guardiola praised Haaland’s display and achievement, calling the striker’s performance “outstanding” and highlighting his determination and the overall contribution he made across the match.
Guardiola’s reaction and Haaland’s influence on City
Haaland’s first-half strike was only part of his contribution, as he also struck the frame of the goal twice—once in each half—and created two goals for teammates. Although he added only one to his tally on the night, he repeatedly threatened to extend it.
His 15 league goals so far place him at the top of the scoring chart, with Brentford’s Igor Thiago trailing by four strikes. Haaland’s influence is further underscored by the fact that he has provided nearly half of City’s 32 Premier League goals this campaign.
Since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, Haaland has consistently broken records. Reaching 100 goals in just 111 matches tops his growing list of individual feats. The previous quickest mark, set by Shearer, required 124 appearances.
City manager Guardiola praised Haaland’s hunger and quality, saying that the forward’s mentality remains sharp and his competitive drive will continue to push him to score more for the club as the season progresses.
Haaland’s journey to the milestone
Haaland’s rise in England began with a historic debut season in 2022–23, when he scored 36 league goals—the highest single-season total in Premier League history—in only 33 starts. That campaign immediately signaled the pace at which he could accumulate records.
After arriving from Dortmund for £51m, where he registered 62 league goals in 67 outings, the striker adapted instantly to English football. His scoring rate since joining City is significantly higher than that of any other major Premier League goalscorer to date.
He has also reached double figures in a league season more quickly than any other player on three separate occasions. These benchmarks underline how rapidly he has built his Premier League legacy since making the switch from Germany.
His century arrives at a meaningful stage of his career, following a period last season in which he was briefly doubted by some observers. A stretch beginning with City’s loss at Liverpool in December 2024 saw him find the net only once in seven games, the slowest spell of his time in Manchester.
Despite that dip, he concluded the campaign with 34 goals across all competitions, including 22 in league action. Even his least prolific season in England still produced numbers that most forwards would consider exceptional.
This term, he has resumed his typical output, with 15 goals in 14 league appearances and 20 across 19 matches overall. With his contract extending until 2034, surpassing Shearer’s record total of 260 Premier League goals may now appear to be within reach.
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