Page 62 - PROTAGONIST-134

Previous page, Erling Haaland of Manchester City poses with the Premier League
trophy after the Premier League match between Manchester City and Chelsea
FC at Etihad Stadium on May 21, 2023 in Manchester, England.
©Michael Regan/Getty Images

Had he lived in the early eighties, he would have been punches and the indestructible skeleton of the Terminator. With
perfect for the role of the antagonist of the star-spangled hero over 100 goals scored across all competitions for the “Citizens”
of the day, the classic villain from beyond the curtain who and an already towering stack of records to his name, his
threatens the champion of western values with the grotesque achievements are set to grow even more during the long career
“I’ll break you in two” line. A few years later, the best directors that lies ahead of him. At the age of 24, he has already won two
of science fiction blockbusters populated by cyborgs who either Premier Leagues, a Champions League, an Intercontinental
save humanity or try to destroy it, as the case may be, would Cup and a plethora of ‘minor’ trophies that are considered
contend with him. ‘minor’ only to those who do not win them. On a personal level,
Now that the future has arrived, Erling Braut Haaland is he also boasts a Golden Shoe, two Premier League top scorer
instead a kind of Thor with cleats and shin guards, the serial titles (including the record of 36 goals in a single season) and as
protagonist of films with equally predictable plots in which, many in the Champions League, where he shares another record
whatever the opponent on duty, he scores at some point. The with Leo Messi, that of being the only player to have scored five
only unknown fact is how many goals he’ll score. in a knockout match (against Leipzig in March 2023). The Ballon
Since arriving in England three years ago to join Manchester d’Or is still missing – coveted in 2023, when the World Cup won
City under Pep Guardiola, his performance has been nothing by Messi in Qatar weighed more in the merit count than the six
short of extraordinary. His stats are scarier than Ivan Drago’s trophies he won with City – but it is clearly only a matter of time.

60 Sport Protagonist