Gary Neville: " Haaland has got the finishing of Harry Kane, the power of Wayne Rooney, he is unbelievable. Even the Brazilian Ronaldo, the power that he had when he ran, the explosion off the mark. Haaland is like four players in one"
Klopp: "Physically he sets new standards, the combination of being really physical and technical and sensational awareness, his orientation on the pitch is exceptional, he knows always where the decisive gaps are, barely offside. He is the best striker in the world."
Jude Bellingham: "I stand here every week and tell you how great he is. The only thing more I can say that the player that you see isn’t a fluke. He doesn’t just turn up after a week on the sun bed, and go out and play. He works his socks off every day to be a better striker. And he's an even better guy than he is a striker!"
Jamie Carragher : "Erling Haaland is the ultimate luxury footballer. He is undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest goal-scorers, but is yet to become a world-class player. To be truly world-class you need more than one, all-encompassing trait."
"Think of the best Premier League strikers of the last 20 years – Thierry Henry, Luis Suarez or Harry Kane – and they had or have a major influence on the biggest matches whether they scored or not. All of them could play for any side in the world and contribute more than an impressive strike-rate"
"In general play, Haaland is not at the same level as these strikers yet, his three most recent games against top class centre-backs confirming that for all his brilliance inside the penalty area, he is a work-in-progress out of it. Virgil van Dijk, William Saliba and Antonio Rudiger bullied Haaland, the much-hyped showdowns between top defenders and a goal machine nothing of the sort. They were a mismatch rather than a match-up."
Lionel Messi: " Erling deserved it very much too, he has won Premier League, Champions League while being the top scorer of everything. This ballon D'Or could have been yours today too. I’m sure in the next years you will win it”.
Roy Keane: "His hold up play is so poor and at times was like a League Two player."
Player Profile
Name: Erling Braut Haaland
Age: 23 (Born: July 21, 2000)
Height: 1.95m
Position: Attack - Centre-Forward
Preferred Foot: Left
Place of Birth: Leeds, England
Citizenship: Norway
Style of Play
Haaland is the epitome of a modern-day centre-forward, boasting a diverse skill set that makes him a nightmare for defenders. Blessed with a towering physique and blistering pace, he possesses the strength to hold off challenges and the speed to leave defenders in his wake.
His versatility is on full display as he seamlessly transitions from hold-up play to darting runs behind the defensive line. Whether with his feet or his head, Haaland is lethal inside the penalty area, with an uncanny ability to find the back of the net from any angle.
Off the ball, Haaland's intelligence and spatial awareness set him apart. He constantly seeks out gaps in the defense, making himself available for scoring opportunities while remaining ever vigilant to avoid the offside trap. His work rate and commitment to improvement are evident in his relentless pursuit of excellence on the pitch.
While Haaland's prowess as a finisher is undisputed, some critics argue that he is yet to reach the level of all-around excellence displayed by other top strikers. His performances against elite defenders have raised questions about his effectiveness outside the penalty area, highlighting areas for growth in his game.
Statistics of Haaland:
- Club Career Games: 274
- Club Career Goals: 218
- Club Career Assists: 51
- National Team Career Games: 31
- National Team Career Goals: 27
- National Team Career Assists: 3
- Overall Career Games: 305
- Overall Career Goals and Assists: 299
Achievements:
Haaland's list of accolades speaks volumes about his impact on the game, including:
- IFFHS World's Best Player: 2023
- FIFA FIFPRO World 11: 2021, 2022, 2023
- ESPN Striker of the Year: 2022–23
- European Golden Shoe: 2022–23
- UEFA Men's Player of the Year: 2022–23
- UEFA Champions League top scorer: 2020–21, 2022–23
- UEFA Champions League Forward of the Season: 2020–21
- Austrian Bundesliga Player of the Season: 2019–20
- Bundesliga Player of the Season: 2020–21
- Premier League Player of the Season: 2022–23
- FIFA U-20 World Cup Golden Boot: 2019
- FWA Footballer of the Year: 2022–23
- Golden Boy: 2020
- Premier League Golden Boot: 2022–23
- Premier League: 2022–23
- Austrian Bundesliga: 2018–19
- UEFA Champions League: 2022–23
Erling Braut Haaland has rocketed to superstardom at an impressive pace. With every goal scored and award received, he solidifies his position as one of the top strikers globally. As he grows and perfects his skills, fans and analysts alike eagerly anticipate the next phase in the journey of this exceptional talent.
