Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland had an impressive debut season, earning the title of PFA Player of the Year. Alongside four of his teammates, he secured a spot in the best XI lineup.
Haaland joined Manchester City last summer, making an immediate impact after transferring from Borussia Dortmund for £510,000. He tallied an impressive 52 goals across all competitions, smashing various records.
Notably, he set a new benchmark for the highest number of goals in a Premier League season with 36.
At just 23 years old, he clinched the Premier League Player of the Season accolade and now garners recognition from the Players Football Association (PFA).
Although he was eligible and nominated, Erling Haaland fell short of winning the Young Player of the Year award, which instead went to Arsenal's star player, Bukayo Saka.
Hailing from a Norwegian sports-oriented family, Erling Haaland has a handsome brother and a lovely sister. His mother, a former Norwegian heptathlon champion.
Erling Haaland's father, a former Norwegian professional soccer player, holds connections to clubs such as Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, and Manchester City.
During the years 2000 to 2003, young Erling Haaland spent time in Manchester City.
To some extent, joining Manchester City can be considered as a reconnection between the Haaland family and the city of Manchester.
Interestingly, while at Leeds United and Manchester City, Haaland's father had experienced two incidents involving a shoveling hit from Manchester United's Roy Keane.
The incident in 2001 resulted in his father suffering a cruciate ligament tear, which ultimately led to his retirement in 2003.
This history adds anticipation to the possibility of Erling Haaland facing Manchester United in the future.
Like many footballers, Haaland has a soccer idol who has influenced his playing style. His top idol is Ibrahimovic, another figure from Scandinavia.
While they share similar physical attributes, their personalities and playing styles differ significantly.
Erling Haaland's current season form is commendable, having scored three goals in his initial two Premier League matches.
Despite this, he encountered a setback by missing a penalty against Sheffield United.
As the Ballon d'Or nominees are set to be revealed next week, Haaland emerges as a frontrunner for soccer's most prestigious individual award.
However, formidable competition arises from Lionel Messi, who clinched the World Cup with Argentina.
In close and mid-range situations, Erling Haaland's shooting prowess, velocity, and power rival even the legendary Gabriel Batistuta.
Unlike the occasional flair of improvisation seen in Kylian Mbappé, Haaland now resembles an emotionless shooting machine, something that Manchester City often lacks as they focus more on outplaying opponents without always sealing the deal.
Certainly, Haaland's physicality and frequent sprints might make injuries his greatest adversary on the path to surpassing past greats.
At 23, he seems to be adopting a healthier style of play, ensuring a prolonged peak in his quest to surpass his predecessors.