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Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney doesn't think Erling Haaland is a better goalscorer than himself. The iconic former Red Devils striker remained silent when Manchester City's free-scoring Norweigan's name was read out.
Rooney participated in a game with BBC Sport that required him to stay silent until a better goalscorer than himself was named. He was mute for Alvaro Morata, Romelu Lukaku, Olivier Giroud, Fernando Torres, Miroslav Klose, Robin van Persie and Didier Drogba.
Erling Haaland's name came up, and he didn't look moved by the two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner. The former Manchester United captain opted for England's fourth all-time top scorer (48 goals in 80 caps), Gary Lineker:
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"I'll say Lineker yeah. I don't have to (say him) but as a goalscorer I'd say Lineker."
Haaland, 23, has broken several goalscoring records since arriving in the English top-flight at City in July 2022. He finished top scorer in the 2022-23 campaign with 36 goals in 35 games, the most amount of goals netted in a Premier League season.
The prolific frontman has scored goals throughout his career, but not enough to convince Rooney he's a superior goalscorer. England's second all-time top scorer (53 in 120 caps) was arguably one of the greatest strikers in Premier League history.
Rooney registered 253 goals and 139 assists in 559 games for Manchester United, making him their all-time top scorer. He sits third in the Premier League's all-time top scorer charts with 208 in 491 games.
Haaland's unbelievable start at City has many expecting him to be among the top scorers in the league's history. He also won the UEFA Champions League Golden Boot in 2023 (12 goals in 11 games) amid City's treble triumph.
"Takes my breath away" - Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney hailed Erling Haaland as the best in the world
Rooney has previously waxed lyrical about Erling Haaland and dubbed him the best player in the world in 2023. The Manchester United hero spoke amid the Cityzens' continental treble-winning season (via The Times):
"Erling Haaland is the best footballer in the world right now. Lionel Messi is the greatest but at this moment, nobody is playing better than a striker who, even though I broke records in that position takes my breath away with the levels he’s reaching."
Rooney even suggested Haaland should have been named the 2023 Ballon d'Or winner ahead of 2022 FIFA World Cup winner Lionel Messi:
"If you’re looking at who is going to win the Ballon D’Or then it has got to be him... And why wouldn’t he? A record of 224 goals in 264 games is the mark of a player whose standards don’t drop."
Haaland missed out on the Ballon d'Or to Messi last year, finishing second on the podium last October. His astounding debut season at the Etihad, where he was crucial in a treble win, wasn't enough to prevent a record eighth Ballon d'Or for the Argentine icon.
