Erling Haaland becomes fastest player to reach 50 international goals

Erling Haaland was on fire again, netting a hat-trick in Norway’s 5-0 win over Israel on Saturday. The Manchester City star set yet another record by becoming the fastest player in history to score 50 international goals.

At just 25 years old, Haaland reached the milestone in only 46 games—faster than legends like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, Harry Kane, and Kylian Mbappé, according to Opta Joe.

He's also been in red-hot form this season, scoring 12 goals in all competitions so far. His performances have played a key role in helping Manchester City bounce back from a shaky start to the season, which included league defeats to Brighton and Tottenham.

Erling Haaland continues blistering goal run

Erling Haaland’s hunger for goals hasn’t slowed down—even during the international break. On Saturday, he scored a hat-trick in Norway’s 5-0 win over Israel in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, despite missing a penalty and its retake.

Haaland’s importance to Manchester City continues to grow, especially as they battle Liverpool and Arsenal for the Premier League title. Since City’s 2-1 loss to Brighton at the end of August, Haaland has been a key driver of their success.

As Manchester City adapt to life without Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland has stepped up in a big way. He's playing some of his best football and has taken his all-around game as a centre-forward to the next level this season, especially under the influence of new sporting director Hugo Viana.

Cover Credits - BBC