Erling Haaland answered his critics in the best way possible this season. He scored goals. Lots of them. After a quieter 2024/25 campaign, the Norwegian striker reminded the Premier League why he is still the most feared finisher in world football.
Here at GameDay, we break down his full 2025/26 season — the numbers, the milestones, and what it all means for Manchester City going forward.
The Headline Numbers
Haaland finished the season with 27 Premier League goals in 35 games. That was enough to win the Golden Boot — comfortably. He also added 8 assists, giving him 35 goal contributions in total.
His numbers under the surface are just as good. He averaged 0.82 goals per 90 minutes. That put him first among all Premier League players with at least three starts. His non-penalty expected goals figure was 23.70. In plain terms, he was not just scoring — he was getting into the right spots to score, over and over again.
Why This Season Felt Different
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Context matters here. In 2024/25, Haaland went through a dip. A rough patch in December hurt his tally. Then a spring injury slowed him down just as Mohamed Salah was pulling clear at the top of the scoring charts.
So 2025/26 was a response. From day one, he looked sharper, hungrier, and more clinical. For instance, he opened the season with two goals against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the first weekend. That set the tone for everything that followed.
In fact, scoring on the opening day has become something of a habit for him. It has happened in almost every season he has played in England.
The Milestones He Reached
This was a season full of big moments. In early December, Haaland reached 100 Premier League goals. He did it in just 120 appearances — a stunning rate for the English top flight.
On top of that, he passed 150 goals for Manchester City across all competitions. One of those milestone goals came in a big moment too. With City and Liverpool level at Anfield, he stepped up and buried a stoppage-time penalty. That goal was his 150th for the club. It does not get much more dramatic than that.
Champions League: Still Breaking Records
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Haaland’s Champions League record is in a class of its own. Across his career, he has now scored 57 goals in just 58 games in the competition. That is close to a goal per game — a rate that puts him among the best the tournament has ever seen.
His first goal of the 2025/26 campaign came against Napoli. That strike brought up his 50th Champions League goal in only 49 appearances. No player in history has reached that mark faster.
That said, City’s European run ended in disappointment. They went out in the Round of 16 after a heavy 3-0 defeat away to Real Madrid in March. Even Haaland could not save them on that night.
Trophies — But Not the League
Despite all his goals, City did not win the Premier League. They finished second with 78 points — eight points behind champions Arsenal. For Haaland, that gap will hurt.
Even so, the season was not without silverware. City won the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. They also produced one of their most one-sided results ever, beating Exeter City 10-1 in the FA Cup. Haaland, of course, scored in that one too.
So it was a season of personal brilliance inside a team that fell just short at the top. That is an important distinction. He did his job. City, as a whole, did not quite do enough.
How Does It Compare to His Best?
His record-breaking debut season in 2022/23 set the standard — 36 Premier League goals and 52 in all competitions. By those numbers, 2025/26 does not quite match it.
However, in other ways this was a more complete campaign. His 8 assists were higher than in most previous seasons. That shows growth. He is not just a finisher now. He is a player who creates for others too. As a result, City’s attack looks far more dangerous when he is involved, not just when he scores.
What Happens Next?
City are rebuilding. That much is clear. As they reshape their squad for the post-Guardiola era, Haaland’s goals become even more important. He is the one thing in their attack that opponents know they must stop — and still cannot.
For the 2026/27 season, all eyes will be on whether City can close the gap on Arsenal. If they do, Haaland will be the main reason why. You can follow his stats throughout next season at the official Premier League stats page.
Stay with GameDay for player analysis and stats all season long at pitchmag.online.
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