Manchester City's goal machine, Erling Haaland, has rewritten the Premier League history books, surpassing a legendary milestone set by Cristiano Ronaldo. The Norwegian striker achieved this feat during a dominant 3-0 victory over West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, December 20, 2025.
Haaland's Historic Night at the Etihad
The 25-year-old forward was in devastating form, opening the scoring in just the 5th minute. This marked the 10th time this season he has given City the lead in their 17 league matches. Haaland wasn't finished, turning provider in the 38th minute with a clever assist for Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders to double the advantage.
He completed his brace in the 69th minute, courtesy of an assist from substitute Rico Lewis, sealing a comprehensive win that keeps the pressure on league leaders Arsenal. The result leaves Manchester City second with 37 points, just two points behind Mikel Arteta's side.
Overtaking a Manchester United Legend
The second goal against West Ham was particularly significant. It was Haaland's 104th Premier League goal, moving him one ahead of Manchester United icon Cristiano Ronaldo's tally. The sheer speed of this achievement is what makes it extraordinary.
According to ESPN, the former Borussia Dortmund star reached this landmark in a mere 114 matches. This shatters the previous record held by Ronaldo, who took 236 games to score his 103 Premier League goals. Haaland's efficiency is simply unmatched.
His form this season is equally staggering. He has now scored 19 goals in 17 Premier League appearances, putting him on track to break his own record of 36 goals from the 2022/23 campaign. Furthermore, his 19-goal haul before Christmas equals a Premier League record shared by Andy Cole (1993-94), Kevin Phillips (1999-00), and Luis Suárez (2013-14).
Fan Frenzy and Title Implications
The record-breaking performance sent social media into a frenzy. Fans were quick to hail the Norwegian's incredible statistics. One user, @LearnWithAbbay, noted the dramatic difference in games played, writing, "104 goals and 122 fewer games… that’s not breaking records, that’s deleting timelines."
Another fan, @OppNaija, offered a nuanced perspective, congratulating Haaland while adding context: "All records will eventually be broken... however it should be mentioned that comparing Ronaldo and Haaland is not a like for like as Haaland is the main goal outlet, while Ronaldo shared this responsibility."
Beyond the individual accolades, Haaland's form serves as a severe warning to Arsenal in the title race. With the striker hitting peak performance and City looking formidable, the battle for the Premier League crown is intensifying. The Norwegian has now scored 25 goals in 23 matches across all competitions this season, proving he is the defining force in City's pursuit of silverware.
