Erling Haaland says he is “far off” the levels Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have reached in their legendary football careers.Â
The two players are deemed the greatest to ever play in the history of the sport, with few others able to rival their dominance over the past two decades.
But Haaland has been scoring goals at such a high rate that some think he should be in the conversation when it comes to the greatest footballers of all time.
Haaland shoots down Messi and Ronaldo comparisons
The Manchester City striker does not agree, however. “No, not at all,” he said during Tuesday’s press conference ahead of taking on former club Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League.
“I am far off. Nobody can get close to them two, so no.”
City manager Pep Guardiola praised Haaland for the rare humility he shows for a footballer of his quality, which is why he made him one of the team captains.
“It is difficult to find a real, real world-class player that is incredibly humble and thinks what is the best for the team,” he said.
“It is difficult to find. When a player has this kind of ability and the talent and generosity and kindness, whatever you want to say and Erling is like that.
“Normally a striker just thinks of goals, goals, goals. Of course he has to score goals, that is obviously clear. But he signed a contract for 10 years and the more he is involved in many things will be better for him and the club.”
Asked whether he has had to work on remaining humble, Haaland responded: “Not for me, it is completely normal. I am a Norwegian guy and I shouldn’t think I am something because I am scoring goals. I am just Erling and this is something that will never change.”
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