Erling Haaland: The Same Old Story?
20th May was a triumphant day for Manchester City as they won yet another English Premier League title (their 5th in last 6 years). This established their dominance in the modern-day football with them already having demolished Real Madrid and having qualified for Champions League Finals. However, it was not smooth sailing for them in English Premier League in the first half as Arsenal were run away leaders till Christmas. The architect behind this turnaround and success story is obviously Pep Guardiola, but the league has unearthed a new magician who could well be a legend in the making, Erling Haaland.
Erling Haaland has gone on to score a record 36 goals in English Premier League coupled with 12 goals in the Champions League. These are beast numbers which indicate that the baton may be passing from Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to another new household name from the English Premier League. This all seems rosy, but it could very well be the beginning of the end of another same old story. Shine in League and never become a Legend.
Haaland hails from Norway which last played a world back in 1998 so his chances of claiming international success outside the premier league appear dim. In addition, he may need to maintain the insane level of consistency clubs like Real Madrid will already be on the lookout for him in the future. Times in football are changing and Haaland has a real shot at being a legend, but the below 3 examples indicate that it could again be the same old story of league success and no legendary status.
1. Gareth Bale: Real Madrid broke the bank for getting Gareth Bale in a record transfer owing to his exception skill and agility. He went on to form a deadly combination with Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid and won many accolades. However, he will never be regarded as a legend because
a. He was from Wales which never had a real shot at winning any world cup or an Euro Championship. This limited his success at club level where it was evident there were other superstars who did have international accolades as well.
b. Being a designated number 2: Despite being a star at Real Madrid, he was always in the shadows of Cristiano Ronaldo. This resulted in him never being able to establish his greatness despite his tremendous skills and phases of magic at Real Madrid.
2. Mohamed Salah: Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is an African Legend with all accolades at a club level accorded to him. Be it player of the year, golden boot, Premier League Champion or Champions League winner, there is nothing that eludes Mohamed Salah except a FIFA world Cup and an African Cup of nations. He is close to being a legend but he will still be deprived of the title owing to
a. No major international trophy: let alone Fifa World Cup, Salah has not won an African Cup of Nations for Egypt, which indicates that he is yet to bring laurels at an international level.
b. A dampener at international level: Despite having played one world cup in 2018, he has not set the stage on fire and is yet ot replicate his Liverpool success at an international level.
3. Lionel Messi: The GOAT of football has taken a lot of time to get that title. Despite being a rage at club level football with Barcelona and breaking records year after year, the status of GOAT was always contentious as he was unable to carry Argentina to a world cup win. This, even though he was constantly scoring for Argentina and even reaching the finals of the world cup and winning Copa Del Ray. It was only in 2022 when he won the World Cup, that his status as the GOAT was established. Without the win, he would have been a star but not remembered in the league of Pele and Maradona.
Erling Haaland has a long way to go and multiple goals and trophies to fill in his cabinet, but he faces 2 major challenges to ensure that he does not end up having the same old story as Bale or Salah.
1. How to carry forward Norway at the international stage?
Haaland will have to carry the Norwegian team on his shoulders and aim to excel at Euro Championship before having a shot at qualifying for the World Cup
2. Be wary of not being the number 2: There will come a time when Real Madrid or Barcelona may reach out to Haaland with record transfers. He will have to be wary that he does not end up in the shadows of another legend, Kylian Mbappe who has the world at his feet today and can very well be the future of Real Madrid
All we can hope for is some mouthwatering goals and striking from Erling Haaland in the future as a legend is unearthed to the world.
