Erling Haaland climbs Champions League scoring charts with historic Manchester City record

Erling Haaland began Manchester City’s new Champions League campaign by scoring twice in a 2-0 victory at Porto, reaching 59 goals in the competition and moving above Thomas Muller into seventh place in the tournament’s all-time scoring rankings.

The Norway striker struck in the 47th minute at Estadio do Dragao, rising to meet an accurate cross from new signing Enzo Fernandez. Haaland’s powerful header hit the post before crossing the line to give the visitors the lead at the start of the second half.

He completed the win in the first minute of added time, reacting quickly to a clever pass from Algeria international Rayan Ait-Nouri inside the penalty area. Haaland met the ball first time with a low shot which the Porto goalkeeper was unable to keep out.

The result gave Manchester City an important away victory in the opening round of the league phase, while Haaland continued his remarkable scoring record in European football.

According to football statistics provider Squawka, Haaland has now scored 59 goals in his Champions League career, overtaking former Bayern Munich and Germany forward Muller, who finished with 57. The achievement came in only his 59th appearance in the competition.

That figure places Haaland seventh on the Champions League’s all-time goalscoring list. His scoring rate is particularly striking when compared with the other leading players who have passed the 58-goal mark.

Lionel Messi required 76 matches to reach that total, while Robert Lewandowski needed 83 appearances. Kylian Mbappe reached 58 goals in 89 games, with Cristiano Ronaldo taking 96 matches to achieve the same figure.

Karim Benzema reached the mark after 108 Champions League appearances, while Raul Gonzalez needed 111 games.

Haaland’s latest landmark underlines the pace at which he has rewritten the competition’s scoring records since making his debut in Europe’s premier club tournament. The striker has maintained a goal-per-game average across the 59 matches cited in the statistics, a rate comfortably ahead of the other members of the elite group.

A separate statistical post highlighted the same achievement by recording Haaland’s 58th Champions League goal in his 59th appearance, and compared his progress with the other leading scorers: Messi reached the figure in 76 games, Lewandowski in 83, Mbappe in 89, Ronaldo in 96, Benzema in 108 and Raul Gonzalez in 111.

The two-goal performance in Porto ensured Haaland’s latest record was accompanied by a decisive contribution for Manchester City. His first goal broke the hosts’ resistance after a goalless opening half, before his late finish secured all three points for the English side.