It is therefore in Spain that the two most coveted players in world football have once again panicked the counters.
After Kylian Mbappé's hat-trick against FC Barcelona on Tuesday, Erling Haaland responded with a brace in Seville on Wednesday night.
And the Norwegian swears it, he was inspired by the Frenchman's performance.
“I love the Champions League and when I saw Mbappé score a hat-trick yesterday, it motivated me,” explains Haaland in the mixed zone.
So thank you to him.
It was a beautiful evening.
I saw him score some nice goals, it's like I got a free boost.
"
The Borussia Dortmund scorer does not say he is in "competition" with that of PSG.
But their precocity in many records can not prevent comparisons.
Born in December 1998, Mbappé holds the record for goals scored before the age of 21 with 19 goals.
Born in July 2000, Haaland is only one goal away from the mark established by the French world champion.
With Dortmund likely to qualify in the quarter-finals, he should have three chances to beat him.
The Norwegian has been a phenomenon since his Champions League debut on September 17, 2019 with RB Salzburg.
His first appearance?
A hat-trick against Genk (6-2).
During the group stage, Haaland continues against Liverpool (1), Naples (3) and again Genk (1).
In January 2020, Borussia Dortmund is the most convincing and enlists the young prodigy.
New club, new responsibilities?
But here again Haaland crushes everything, starting with the PSG of… Kylian Mbappé in the round of 16 first leg with a double (2-1).
A success that attracts the big clubs
The return to the Parc des Princes is, with a match against Liverpool, the only one in which Haaland does not score in C1.
In total, he has 13 appearances for 18 goals.
It's simple, he has at least scored once against all his opponents.
This season, still with Dortmund, Lazio (1), Zenith (1), Bruges (4) and, therefore, Seville (2) have gone there.
For comparison, Lionel Messi had only scored 8 goals before he turned 21.
Cristiano Ronaldo?
No.
In contract with Dortmund until June 2024, Haaland is in less of a hurry than Mbappé (June 2022) to decide on his future.
But such a success inevitably attracts the greatest, from Bayern Munich to Real Madrid with a hook by Liverpool or Manchester City.
In reconstruction and with the need to recruit a superstar, Real seem to be among the favorites.
But we will have to choose between Haaland and… Mbappé.
This Thursday morning, in the newspaper AS, the fans elected the Frenchman at 65%.
