Erling Haaland has done it again. Just over a week ago, his goal against Brighton secured yet another Premier League record — 88 goals in his first 100 games, the most by any player in the league’s history.
But what truly sets Haaland apart? Is it just his finishing ability, or is there more to his incredible goalscoring record?
Haaland’s International and Club Scoring Record
The Norwegian striker recently scored five goals in Norway’s 11-1 thrashing of Moldova, marking his fifth treble for his country and bringing his international tally to 48 goals in 45 games. Before joining Manchester City, Haaland scored 86 goals in 89 games for Borussia Dortmund.
Is Finishing the Key to Haaland’s Goal Tally?
While Haaland is undoubtedly an unbelievable finisher, statistics suggest that his finishing alone doesn’t fully explain his goal numbers. Given the quality and quantity of chances he’s had since joining the Premier League in 2022, an average player would have scored about 84 goals. Haaland’s finishing accounts for only about four extra goals beyond that average (two if you exclude penalties).
The Role of Chance Creation in Haaland’s Success
Like other top scorers such as Mohamed Salah and Ollie Watkins, Haaland’s ability to consistently get into great scoring positions is crucial. Critics might argue that anyone playing up front for Manchester City could score as many goals, but this overlooks Haaland’s unique physical and technical attributes — his strength, speed, height, movement, anticipation, and reflexes make him a nightmare for defenders.
Comparing Haaland to Other World-Class Strikers
Comparing Haaland to Sergio Aguero, another world-class striker who played for Manchester City, reveals interesting insights. Although Aguero took more shots, he scored fewer goals. When considering shot quality, Aguero was actually a slightly better finisher, converting 2% more of his chances than expected. However, Haaland consistently creates much better chances, making him the superior overall goalscorer.
Haaland’s Unique Shooting Style Among Top Forwards
Among Europe’s top forwards, many must choose between taking many low-quality shots (like Kylian Mbappe) or fewer high-quality ones (like Serhou Guirassy). Haaland is unique in taking a high volume of shots without compromising on quality. Only a few others, such as PSG’s Goncalo Ramos and Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski, match this balance.
Why Haaland Is Unstoppable in Creating Chances
Haaland’s ability to generate excellent scoring opportunities is so exceptional that other world-class forwards must be better finishers to match his goal totals. Early in the current Premier League season, Haaland is already the top scorer with three goals in three games and has generated twice as much expected goals (xG) as any other player, proving that his phenomenal goalscoring is about much more than just finishing.
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