Guardiola insists Haaland IS on CR7 & Messi's level after reaching 30 PL goals

Pep Guardiola said 44-goal Erling Haaland can hit the same heights as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo — if he keeps his body in peak physique.

The pair were regarded as the best two footballers on the planet for nearly two decades and ripped up the record books across glittering careers.

But after a brace at Southampton in Manchester City’s fifth straight league win, Guardiola said there’s no reason why his striker can’t emulate the two greats.

‘As a top scorer we lived two incredible decades with Cristiano and Lionel but Erling is on that level,’ said Guardiola.

‘The second goal was amazing. It is not easy to pick the ball up in the sky and put it on the grass. His talent is really good. We need him.

‘The first half was not our best level but he changed the game.’

Guardiola hinted that based on two or three seasons, Haaland can live up to the pair’s greatness - but that only a perfect attitude to improving on and off the pitch will lead to decade-long supremacy.

‘He is very similar to Cristiano… Lionel is a more complete player, but Erling is a machine,’ he said.

‘The other two guys dominated for two decades, winning titles and doing so many things. Since I met him, he has had an incredibly right mindset.

‘Haaland is always happy and always smiling. Messi, when he scored two goals and not three, he might frown. Erling is always in an incredible mood. He has had an incredible impact, not just on the pitch.

‘I have a feeling, maybe I am wrong, that he is so happy with us. He respects me a lot. We have to take care of him. The numbers he has at his age are unbelievable.’

Kevin De Bruyne, who teed up Haaland for his first and notched a 100th Premier League assist, added: ‘Erling scores a lot of goals – it’s insane. If we create chances, he will be there.

‘It’s a good combination, he knows what I want to do, I think I know what he wants to do. This year has been pretty good and for him I think it’s amazing.’