Manchester City secured a 2-0 win against Villarreal in their third match of the 2025/26 Champions League on October 21 at Estadi de la Ceramica.
Erling Haaland found the back of the net for Man City just 17 minutes into the clash after being set up by Rico Lewis.
Bernardo Silva, then, doubled the lead for the visitors with a stunning header from an assist by Savinho in the 40th minute.
Haaland has started the ongoing campaign strongly, scoring 15 goals in 11 appearances across competitions for Man City.
The 25-year-old star has scored in each of his last nine appearances for Man City, and is only one away from equalling his own record for consecutive outings for the English club between August and October 2022.
By scoring Man City’s opening goal against Villarreal, Haaland has matched Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo’s career best streak of scoring in 12 consecutive matches for club and country.
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And now, Haaland is closing in on matching and possibly surpassing the record currently held by another greatest of all time, Lionel Messi, in the Champions League.
How far is Man City’s Erling Haaland from Lionel Messi’s Champions League record?
Haaland has entered the list of top goal scorers in the Champions League, standing ninth after netting 53 goals in 51 games.
Messi is the only player who has netted 59 goals in the competition before the age of 26.
The Norwegian star, who does not turn 26 until July next year, has the majority of the 2025/26 season remaining to match the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s record by scoring six more goals in the Champions League.
Haaland will be able to break the Argentine icon’s record if he nets seven more goals in the competition by the end of this campaign.
It remains to be seen if Haaland can increase his goal tally in Man City’s next Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund on November 5 at Etihad Stadium.
Man City are set to return to Premier League action in their upcoming game against Aston Villa on October 26 at Villa Park.
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