Haaland Sets Off Alarm Bells: Cristiano’s Greatest Record Is No Longer Untouchable

For years, Cristiano Ronaldo’s dominance as the highest scorer in the history of international football seemed like an achievement no one could ever surpass. With 143 goals in 226 matches for Portugal and the real possibility of retiring with 150 goals, many believed that record would last for generations. But in 2025, a threat as young as it is terrifying has emerged: Erling Haaland.

The Norwegian striker, who is redefining what it means to be a modern goalscorer, has already reached 55 goals in 48 matches, with an almost unreal average: one goal every 71.3 minutes. For comparison, Cristiano has needed nearly twice as much time to score throughout his Portugal career. For many analysts, it’s no longer a question of if Haaland will break the record… but when.

The Season That Changed Everything: Haaland’s Monster 2025

If there were any doubts, Haaland erased them all this year. In 2025, he has scored 17 goals in just 9 matches, averaging one goal every 44.2 minutes. Not even a full half of football passes before he finds the net. A devastating rhythm.

With these numbers, Haaland would need only 47 more matches to reach the 95 goals required to hit the 150 mark. In simple terms: six years.
Yes: six years to break the biggest international record in football history, and he would do it before turning 31.

It’s a scenario that no longer seems unrealistic. In fact, it’s starting to feel almost inevitable.

A Temporary Scoring Explosion or the Start of a Historic Decade?

Skeptics argue that 2025 might be an “exceptional year,” where everything clicked perfectly for the Norwegian. And while his numbers may drop, even a “normal” Haaland remains a massive threat to Cristiano’s record.

If we use his overall career average, one goal every 71.3 minutes, he would need around 76 more matches to score the remaining 95 goals. Assuming he plays around 8 international games per year, it would take him 9.5 years to break the record.

That places the historic moment around 2035 or 2036, when Haaland turns 34.

What’s alarming is that even in this more “conservative” scenario, Haaland would surpass Cristiano with far fewer matches: around 124 appearances, compared to CR7’s 220+.

Are We Watching the Heir to the Goal-Scoring Throne?

Haaland is a unique case. His physicality, mentality, and obsession with scoring make him a player engineered to break records. While Cristiano continues fighting to extend his legacy, the Norwegian is advancing at a pace unseen in decades.

The question is no longer whether he can break the record, but what could stop him: a serious injury, loss of form, or a drastic tactical shift. If none of these obstacles appear, we may be watching the most likely successor to the greatest goalscoring record in international football.

For now, Cristiano Ronaldo’s record still stands, but the Norwegian robot has already started the countdown.