The Manchester City forward smashed five goals for City as they battered RB Leipzig in the Champions League on a remarkable night at the Etihad Stadium
Erling Haaland has become the youngest player to score 30 Champions League goals on his way to scoring a remarkable five in Manchester City’s Champions League clash with RB Leipzig.
The Norwegian’s third was his 30th in the competition, a tally he has brought up in just 25 matches and at the age of 22 years and 236 days.
Kylian Mbappe previously held that record at 22 years and 352 days, placing the pair way ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who got his 30 in 48 games.
The Norwegian has also become just the third player to score five goals in a single Champions League game, and broke City’s record for the most goals scored in a single season.
Haaland fired City in front in the 22nd minute with his second penalty in as many games, with goalkeeper Janis Blaswich going the right way but unable to keep the shot out in the corner.
City were awarded a penalty when referee Slavko Vincic was sent to the pitchside monitor minutes after Rodri’s header brushed the arm of Benjamin Henrichs, who had his back to the midfielder as they both leapt for the ball.
Haaland had a second moments later as De Bruyne’s shot from the edge of the area crashed back off the crossbar and the Norwegian was on hand to nod home the rebound.
Haaland completed his fifth hat-trick of the season in first-half stoppage time, prodding in from point-blank range after Ruben Dias’ header struck a post and rolled across the goal-line.
Haaland scored an incredible five goals before being substituted ( Image: AFP via Getty Images)
There was no let-up from City in the second half as Ilkay Gundogan made it 4-0 within four minutes of the restart, threading the ball through the box and inside the right-hand post after exchanging passes with Jack Grealish.
Haaland had his fourth, and City’s fifth, in the 53rd minute, poking in from close range after a corner led to a goalmouth scramble.
Blaswich saved Haaland’s initial header and a follow-up effort from Manuel Akanji before Haaland thumped in the loose ball.
The relentless Haaland had his fifth of the night before the hour mark, again picking up the pieces after Blaswich could only parry Akanji’s effort from a corner.
There would be no double hat-trick for Haaland, however, as he was replaced by Julian Alvarez in the 63rd minute, leaving him tied with Messi for the most goals in a single Champions League match.
