How Many Goals Can Erling Haaland Score This Season? Can Man City Star Beat Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Best Tallies?

Erling Haaland has started the 2025/26 season on fire – but can he hit the kind of numbers Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo produced at their peak?

In his first eight appearances for Manchester City this term, Haaland has already scored 11 times. He has also netted six in his last two international matches for Norway, including a five-goal haul in an 11-1 win over Moldova.

Erling Haaland’s first eight games for Man City this season

Fixture	Score	Minutes Played	Goals
Wolves vs Man City	0-4	73 mins	2
Man City vs Tottenham	0-2	90 mins	0
Brighton vs Man City	2-1	90 mins	1
Man City vs Man Utd	3-0	87 mins	2
Man City vs Napoli	2-0	80 mins	1
Arsenal vs Man City	1-1	76 mins	1
Man City vs Burnley	5-1	90 mins	2
Monaco vs Man City	2-2	90 mins	2

Erling Haaland averaging 1.375 goals per game

Haaland is currently averaging 1.375 goals per game for Man City this season. Although it is very early, if he can maintain that scoring rate — and stay injury free — then this season looks destined to be his most prolific to date.

The 2022/23 campaign is currently Haaland’s best in terms of goals scored. He netted 52 times in 53 games in what was his first season in Manchester.

However, if he continues scoring at his current rate then Haaland will only need another 31 games to beat that tally.

Erling Haaland’s best scoring seasons

Season	Club(s)	Appearances	Goals	Goals Per Game
2022–23	Manchester City	53	52	0.98
2019–20	RB Salzburg & Borussia Dortmund	46	44	0.96
2020–21	Borussia Dortmund	41	41	1.00
2023–24	Manchester City	45	38	0.84
2024–25	Manchester City	48	34	0.71
2021–22	Borussia Dortmund	30	29	0.97

Can Haaland break Lionel Messi’s record of 73 goals in a single season?

If Haaland stays fit and plays the majority of City’s games this season, he will likely add to his impressive haul of individual records.

Haaland played 53 times for City in his first season with the club. Should he make 53 appearances this term and continue averaging around 1.375 goals then he could end up with 73 goals (53 x 1.375 = 72.875).

For context, Lionel Messi’s most prolific season was the 2011/12 campaign when he plundered 73 goals in 60 matches. He also provided 30 assists that season.

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo, the greatest goalscorer in football history, scored 61 goals in 54 games for Real Madrid in the 2014/15 season during his most prolific campaign.

How many goals can Erling Haaland score this season if he plays every game for Man City?

Haaland could easily make way more than 53 appearances — and therefore perhaps score even more than 73 goals.

If City were to reach the finals of the EFL Cup, FA Cup and Champions League — assuming a top-eight finish in the league phase — then they would play another 53 matches across all competitions this season.

Haaland has already played eight games, so could in theory rack up 61 appearances by the end of the campaign.

A strike-rate of 1.375 goals per game over 61 matches would see his tally reach 84. Not a bad way to prepare for his first World Cup next summer.