Erling Haaland breaks impressive record, surpassing Messi, Ronaldo and Mbappé for his goal in the Club World Cup

Coming on as a halftime substitute, Haaland made an instant impact with his third touch of the game, finishing from close range to put City up 3–1. The milestone goal marked his 123rd strike for Manchester City and continued his rapid rise as one of the game’s most lethal finishers.

Erling Haaland hit a major milestone in his already remarkable career, scoring his 300th goal for club and country as Manchester City defeated Juventus 5–2 in a crucial Group G match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in Orlando.

The 24-year-old Norwegian striker started the match on the bench, with manager Pep Guardiola opting for Omar Marmoush in the starting lineup. But after a closely contested first half, Guardiola brought on Haaland at halftime — and it didn’t take long for him to make an impact.

Haaland scored just seven minutes after coming on, with his third touch of the ball, tapping in from close range to put City up 3–1. The goal showcased his trademark instinct inside the box and was a turning point in the game, helping City pull away from a determined Juventus side.

Milestone goal for a record-breaking striker

The goal was Haaland’s 123rd for Manchester City in just 145 appearances — a staggering strike rate since joining the Premier League champions. More impressively, it brought his overall career total to 300 goals in just 370 games, including stints with Molde, RB Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City, and the Norwegian national team.

According to ESPN, Haaland reached the 300-goal milestone significantly faster than other modern legends. Cristiano Ronaldo took 554 games to reach 300, Lionel Messi needed 418, and Kylian Mbappé hit the mark in 409 appearances. Haaland’s efficiency and scoring pace continue to redefine modern expectations for strikers.

City tops Group G, advances to Round of 16

With the 5–2 victory over Juventus, Manchester City finish atop Group G, advancing to the Round of 16, where they will face the runner-up of Group H on Monday, again in Orlando. The result leaves Juventus in second place, also progressing but in a less favorable position.

As of Thursday, Real Madrid leads Group H, with RB Salzburg close behind. The final standings will be determined later today, setting up the knockout stage matchups.

For Manchester City, the focus now shifts to maintaining momentum — and for Haaland, it’s just another day rewriting the record books.