Guardiola likens Haaland to Ronaldo insists Lionel Messi remains the better player

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has likened superstar striker Erling Haaland to Cristiano Ronaldo, although he insists Lionel Messi remains a ‘more complete player’ than both.

Already City’s all-time leading goalscorer in a single season, Haaland netted twice more in Saturday’s 4-1 over Southampton – including a stunning overhead kick.

That brace took his league tally for the season to 30 in only 27 appearances in the competition. The Norwegian could still play in up to nine further Premier League games and, scoring at the same rate as he has done so far, could add another 10 goals before the campaign wraps.

That would put Haaland on 40, which would smash the existing single season Premier League record of 34, jointly held by Andy Cole (1993/94) and Alan Shearer (1994/95). Those record tallies happened when it was a 42-game season. The record for a 38-game season is Mohamed Salah’s 32.

“In terms of the thesis of scoring goals. He's quite similar in terms of Cristiano but Messi is the more complete player,” Guardiola explained.

“Messi can play wherever while Cristano and Erling are machines. Erling knows those two guys dominated over two decades not just one or two seasons, winning titles and doing everything. Football is a better place for Cristano and Messi for what they have done for our business, the traction of these two guys competing at the big clubs.

"Erling is arriving in the toughest league in the world. I can talk as I've been in other leagues and doing what he has done is remarkable.”

Reigning Premier League champions City remain five points behind leaders Arsenal, who face Liverpool on Sunday and will end the weekend having played one game more than their closest competitors.

Guardiola’s team are determined to win a third successive title, which has only been achieved on five occasions in more than 130 years of English league football – twice by Manchester United in the Premier League era, as well as Liverpool in the 1980s, Arsenal in the 1930s and Huddersfield in the 1920s.