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    Haaland has a “small hand” in the Champions League: Surpassing Mbappe, equaling Messi

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    Manchester City star man Erling Haaland has made history once again, breaking Kylian Mbappe‘s record to become the youngest player to score 30 goals in the history of the Champions League.

    The Norwegian striker has also reached the tally faster than any other player as it took him just 25 appearances.

    The record was broken as Haaland scored from the spot to give City a 1-0 lead in the second leg of their last-16 tie at the Etihad on Tuesday, which they went on to win 7-0.

    The forward confidently slotted the ball past keeper Janis Blaswich to break the record.

    Haaland is 116 days younger than Paris Saint-Germain’s Mbappe was when he scored his 30th goal in the Champions League.

    Erling Haaland made history on Tuesday night as he became the youngest player to score 30 goals in the Champions League
    Erling Haaland made history on Tuesday night as he became the youngest player to score 30 goals in the Champions League
    Haaland's opening goal also saw him become the fastest player to 30 Champions League goals
    Haaland’s opening goal also saw him become the fastest player to 30 Champions League goals
    Haaland celebrated his second goal with team-mate Bernardo Silva on a superb night for City
    Haaland celebrated his second goal with team-mate Bernardo Silva on a superb night for City

    Haaland then reached 36 goals in 36 appearances for City since joining from Borussia Dortmund with his second on the night.

    Just before the half-time whistle, Haaland had his hat-trick after scrambling the ball over the line following a frantic City corner.

    Less than 10 minutes into the second half, Haaland scored his fourth and drew level with City’s 94-year-old record number of goals per season, with his 38th in all competitions.

    He then surpassed this number, set by Tommy Johnson in 1927/28, with his fifth of the night just three minutes later.

    Haaland has scored eight goals in City’s sky blue in the Champions League, with the larger share of his goals coming during his time at Dortmund.

    The 22-year-old scored his first Champions League goals during his time at Red Bull Salzburg, where he netted eight times in 2019 before his mid-season move to the Bundesliga.

    The Norwegian was in ruthless form as he scored five in the 7-0 thrashing of Leipzig on Tuesday
    The Norwegian was in ruthless form as he scored five in the 7-0 thrashing of Leipzig on Tuesday
    Haaland scored a hat-trick before half-time and scored twice more after the break
    Haaland scored a hat-trick before half-time and scored twice more after the break
    He was in record-breaking form as City cruised into the last eight of the Champions League
    He was in record-breaking form as City cruised into the last eight of the Champions League 

    Mbappe now has 40 goals in the Champions League but could not prevent PSG’s last-16 exit at the hands of Bayern Munich.

    The French forward will not be able to add to his tally this year, after the Ligue 1 club was crashed out with the defeat to the Bundesliga giants.

    When it comes to record breaking, Haaland has form in this competition.

    In the same vein, he also holds the record as the fastest player to have reached 20 goals – and in 14 matches, in the fewest number appearances.

    SOURCE: dailymail.co.uk

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