Vincent Kompany, a former professional footballer and current coach, knows a thing or two about great players. As a leader on the field for Manchester City and the Belgium national team, he played alongside some of the best in the game. So, when he says that Erling Haaland is one of the all-time greats, it’s worth taking notice.
Haaland burst onto the scene in the 2019-20 season while playing for Red Bull Salzburg. The Norwegian striker scored an incredible 28 goals in 22 league matches, including a remarkable hat-trick against Genk in the Champions League. His performances earned him a move to Borussia Dortmund in January 2020, and he hasn’t looked back since.
At just 20 years old, Haaland already has an impressive list of accomplishments. He’s scored 57 goals in just 59 appearances for Borussia Dortmund, including 10 in the Champions League. He’s also earned a regular spot in the Norway national team, where he’s scored six goals in just seven matches. It’s clear that Haaland is a special player, and Kompany sees him as a potential all-time great.
Kompany recently gave an interview where he spoke about Haaland’s potential. He said, “I think he’s going to be one of the all-time greats. He’s already a superstar now, but he’s going to be one of the best.” These are big words from a player who knows what it takes to reach the top of the game.
So, what makes Haaland so special? To start, he’s an incredibly physical player. At 6’4″, he’s got the size to dominate defenders in the air and hold the ball up for his team. But he’s not just a brute force player. He’s also incredibly quick and has great footwork for a player his size. This combination of size and speed makes him a nightmare for defenders to handle.
But Haaland’s physical attributes are just part of what makes him great. He’s also got an incredible eye for goal. His finishing ability is truly world-class, and he’s shown that he can score from just about anywhere on the field. Whether it’s a powerful header from a set-piece or a delicate chip over the goalkeeper, Haaland has the skills to make the back of the net bulge.
Despite his young age, Haaland also has a great understanding of the game. He’s able to read the play and find space in the box, making him a constant threat to score. And when he’s not scoring, he’s often creating chances for his teammates with his intelligent movement and passing.
Perhaps most impressively, Haaland seems to thrive on the big stage. He’s already scored some incredible goals in the Champions League, including a stunning brace against Paris Saint-Germain in the 2020-21 season. These performances have earned him comparisons to some of the game’s greatest ever strikers, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Of course, it’s still early in Haaland’s career, and there’s no guarantee that he’ll reach the heights that Kompany predicts. But there’s no denying that he’s already made a massive impact on the game of football. He’s quickly becoming one of the most sought-after players in the world, with many of Europe’s top clubs vying for his signature this summer.
Wherever Haaland ends up next season, it’s clear that he’ll have a lot of expectations to live up to. But if he continues to develop as he has over the past few years, there’s no telling how far he could go. As Kompany said, he has the potential to be one of the all-time greats. And if he does reach that level, it will be a joy to watch him play for years to come.