When Erling Haaland arrived at the Etihad Stadium in the summer of 2022, expectations were stratospheric. The Norwegian powerhouse had terrorised defences across Europe with Borussia Dortmund, and his move to Manchester City promised to elevate both player and club to unprecedented heights. Those who bet on football across Europe knew about the striker that was so dangerous in Austria and Germany, but few could have predicted how quickly his goals would change weekend football odds in City’s favour.
What few anticipated was just how rapidly Haaland would rewrite Premier League record books, becoming a devastating force who has redefined what we expect from modern centre-forwards in English competitions.
Despite Manchester City’s uncharacteristic struggles this season under Pep Guardiola, with the defending champions enduring their worst run of form since the Spaniard’s arrival, Haaland’s individual brilliance has remained a constant.
His blistering start to the campaign – reaching double figures before August had even concluded – showed that his record-breaking debut season was no anomaly but rather the foundation of what could become one of football’s most illustrious careers.
As Haaland rapidly approaches the landmark of 100 Premier League goals – a milestone he is reaching at a pace that dwarfs even the competition’s most celebrated marksmen – the question inevitably arises: has the Norwegian already cemented his status as a Manchester City legend?
In this article, we take a look at some of the biggest names in Sky Blue and see how Haaland compares. Read on to find out more.
Carlos Tevez
When Carlos Tevez made the controversial cross-town move from Manchester United to City in 2009 – immortalised by the provocative “Welcome to Manchester” billboard – it represented a seismic power shift in English football. Tevez embodied City’s emerging ambition, bringing relentless intensity and world-class ability to a side still finding its identity as a genuine force.
Tevez’s 73 goals across all competitions, including a Premier League Golden Boot-winning campaign, helped propel City toward their first league title in 44 years. Yet his legacy remains complicated by an infamous fallout with Roberto Mancini that saw him effectively go on strike midway through his City career, creating a rift that even his eventual return couldn’t fully repair.
Mario Balotelli
Few players have embodied football’s marriage of brilliance and unpredictability quite like Mario Balotelli.
The mercurial Italian’s time at City produced moments of pure theatre both on and off the pitch – from setting fireworks off in his bathroom to revealing his “Why Always Me?” undershirt after scoring against Manchester United.
Balotelli’s most significant contribution came in that pivotal May afternoon in 2012, when his assist set up Sergio Aguero for the most dramatic moment in Premier League history. Though he helped City capture both the FA Cup and their maiden Premier League title, Balotelli’s spell was ultimately defined more by unfulfilled potential than sustained excellence – a stark contrast to Haaland’s ruthless consistency.
Edin Dzeko
Perhaps the most criminally underrated striker of City’s modern era, Edin Dzeko’s contribution often slipped beneath the radar despite his remarkable productivity.
Dzeko epitomised the selfless team player, frequently making way for more celebrated teammates despite his impressive goal return.
His equaliser against QPR on that fateful final day in 2012 was overshadowed by Aguero’s winner but proved equally essential to City’s triumph. Dzeko’s quiet effectiveness laid the groundwork for City’s emerging dynasty without ever receiving the adulation his talents warranted.
Sergio Aguero
Kun Aguero’s status as Manchester City’s greatest striker is written not just in statistics – his club-record 260 goals across all competitions speaks volumes – but etched into the emotional fabric of the club’s identity. His 94th-minute winner against QPR transcended sport, becoming a cultural touchstone that divides Manchester City’s history into “before” and “after.”
The Argentine combined lethal finishing with surprising strength and sublime technique, scoring every type of goal imaginable during his decade at the Etihad. Five Premier League titles, consistency across multiple managers, and his graceful adaptation as the team evolved around him cemented Aguero as the benchmark against which all City strikers are measured.
