Haaland's Cristiano Ronaldo comments say it all as Man City star one game away

The Manchester City striker was once again on the Champions League scoresheet, netting his 22nd goal in just 12 matches as part of a stunning run of form

Erling Haaland levelled another record during Manchester City's 2-0 win over Villarreal on Tuesday, equalling Cristiano Ronaldo's career-best streak of scoring in 12 consecutive games for club and country. Haaland opened the scoring after pouncing on Rico Lewis' low cross, bringing his Champions League tally to four goals.

He has now scored in each of his last nine appearances for City and is just one goal shy of matching his personal record for consecutive games under Pep Guardiola, set between August and October 2022. The 25-year-old's streak includes 22 goals in 12 games, encompassing his Premier League, Champions League, and international appearances.

After scoring twice in City's 4-0 win over Wolves in their Premier League opener, he went goalless against Tottenham and then scored in the next six consecutive matches against Brighton, Manchester United, Arsenal, Burnley, Brentford and Everton. In Champions League fixtures, he has scored against Napoli, Monaco, and Villarreal, following a six-goal haul for Norway in two international matches last month.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo achieved a 12-game scoring streak twice in his career - the first at the start of the 2014/15 season with Real Madrid, and again in April 2018, before Bayern Munich ended the run. Haaland has previously cited Ronaldo as a role model and source of inspiration.

"I would love to meet him and tell him that I am a footballer thanks to him. For me, he was always a model," he was previously quoted as saying by Record.

Haaland was recently asked about the secret to his success, and he told Sky Sports: "I've never felt better than I do now.

"I think it’s about preparation first of all, getting ready for the games and I spoke so many times about it before, you can be physically ready but you need to be mentally ready as well.

"To be honest with a kid I think it makes me even better because I actually disconnect more than ever, I don’t think about football at all.

"Sometimes when you’re younger, you think of this and that and maybe worry a little bit about things. But now when I go home I relax even more so I think I need to give a shout out to my son."

Guardiola's side next face Aston Villa in Premier League action, where Haaland will be eager to extend his goal-scoring streak. That match takes place on Sunday at Villa Park.