Aaj TV English News - Sports https://english.aaj.tv/ Aaj TV English en-Us Copyright 2026 Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:20:07 +0500 Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:20:07 +0500 60 City’s Haaland on the same level as Messi, Ronaldo: Guardiola https://english.aaj.tv/news/30317589/citys-haaland-on-the-same-level-as-messi-ronaldo-guardiola <p><strong>Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said striker Erling Haaland is of the same calibre as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo after the Norwegian international scored twice in Saturday’s 4-1 Premier League victory at Southampton.</strong></p> <p>Haaland scored on a header and remarkable bicycle kick, taking his tally to 44 goals in all competitions this season, with 30 of those coming in the Premier League.</p> <p>His total is now tied for the most ever by a Premier League player in all competitions in a single campaign, equalling Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2002-03 and Mohamed Salah in 2017-18.</p> <p> <figure class='media sm:w-full w-full media--stretch '> <div class='media__item '><picture><img src='https://i.aaj.tv/large/2023/04/09210917997308b.jpg' alt=' Manchester City&rsquo;s Norwegian striker Erling Haaland scores their third goal with this overhead kick during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Manchester City at St Mary&rsquo;s Stadium in Southampton, southern England on April 8, 2023. AFP ' /></picture></div> <figcaption class='media__caption '>Manchester City’s Norwegian striker Erling Haaland scores their third goal with this overhead kick during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Manchester City at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, southern England on April 8, 2023. AFP</figcaption> </figure></p> <p>“We have lived two incredible decades with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but he is on that level,” Guardiola told the <em>BBC</em> on Saturday. Guardiola was in awe of Haaland’s execution of his second goal, which he acrobatically volleyed home off a cross from Jack Grealish.</p> <p>“It is not easy to pick the ball up in the sky and put it on the grass,” Guardiola said. “You can’t imagine at his height he has this ability. Exceptional goal.”</p> <p>The 22-year-old, who joined City from Borussia Dortmund, is now four short of the record of 34 goals in a Premier League season set by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole.</p> <p>City are second in the league with 67 points after 29 games, five behind leaders Arsenal.</p> Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said striker Erling Haaland is of the same calibre as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo after the Norwegian international scored twice in Saturday’s 4-1 Premier League victory at Southampton.

Haaland scored on a header and remarkable bicycle kick, taking his tally to 44 goals in all competitions this season, with 30 of those coming in the Premier League.

His total is now tied for the most ever by a Premier League player in all competitions in a single campaign, equalling Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2002-03 and Mohamed Salah in 2017-18.

Manchester City’s Norwegian striker Erling Haaland scores their third goal with this overhead kick during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Manchester City at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, southern England on April 8, 2023. AFP
Manchester City’s Norwegian striker Erling Haaland scores their third goal with this overhead kick during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Manchester City at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, southern England on April 8, 2023. AFP

“We have lived two incredible decades with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but he is on that level,” Guardiola told the BBC on Saturday. Guardiola was in awe of Haaland’s execution of his second goal, which he acrobatically volleyed home off a cross from Jack Grealish.

“It is not easy to pick the ball up in the sky and put it on the grass,” Guardiola said. “You can’t imagine at his height he has this ability. Exceptional goal.”

The 22-year-old, who joined City from Borussia Dortmund, is now four short of the record of 34 goals in a Premier League season set by Alan Shearer and Andy Cole.

City are second in the league with 67 points after 29 games, five behind leaders Arsenal.

]]> Sports https://english.aaj.tv/news/30317589 Sun, 09 Apr 2023 21:10:57 +0500 none@none.com (Reuters) Manchester City’s Norwegian striker Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Manchester City at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, southern England on April 8, 2023. AFP