Striker Erling Haaland has already claimed a litany of goal-scoring records after two seasons in the Premier League with league champions Manchester City
Erling Haaland has shattered Alan Shearer’s record once – and he could be set to match another.
The Norwegian set a new Premier League record for goals scored in a single season during the 2022/23 campaign as he bagged 36 goals to help Manchester City claim their ninth league title and their third in succession.
Haaland’s tally toppled the previous joint-record of 34 goals held by Shearer (1994/95) and Andrew Cole (1993/94).
Shearer and Cole aren’t the only ones to see their goal-scoring exploits usurped by the Manchester City goal machine. Ruud van Nistelrooy’s record of scoring 40 Champions League goals in the fewest games has also been broken by Haaland, while Mohamed Salah’s staggering Premier League record of 32 goals in a 38-game season has also been
And another of Shearer’s records is at risk as Haaland bids to win the Premier League Golden Boot for a third time on the spin.
Shearer accomplished the deed with Blackburn Rovers (1994/95, 95/96) and Newcastle United (96/97). Arsenal’s Thierry Henry then matched Shearer’s record of three on the bounce between 2003 and 2006. The Gunners legend boasts the record for most Golden Boots with four.
With Haaland having claimed the Golden Boot the last two seasons scoring 36 and 27 goals respectively, the 24-year-old will match the accomplishments of the two Premier League greats if he can bag a third in the next campaign.
Shearer was hardly despondent when Haaland overtook his record two seasons ago, and the same gesture is likely to be shown from the ex-striker.
After being teased online by his Match of the Day host Gary Lineker on X, Shearer responded with a cheeky message, writing: “Couldn’t have wanted it to go to a nicer guy. It’s only taken 28 years!!!! He’s the best,” alongside a host of applause emojis.
Haaland was grateful for the praise and replied: “Thank you legend!”
Erling Haaland won the Premier League Golden Boot ( Image: Stephanie Meek/Getty Images)
It is no surprise to see Shearer offer his congratulations to the Man City sensation for his achievement. He had predicted back in March that he would be claiming the record before the end of the campaign.
Speaking to Amazon Prime Video Sport, he said: “He’ll do it. I was going to actually congratulate him tonight because it’s only a matter of time before he gets it.
“I’d be the first to shake his hand, it’s going to go. I really enjoy his attitude, I love his desire and I love what he was saying about not sleeping at night when he doesn’t score goals because that’s what a goalscorer is.
“I love everything about him and as I’ve said beforehand, if you’re building the perfect centre forward he is it and I think he’s almost perfect, and he’s playing in a great team.”