Haaland, Messi & Ronaldo: The best starts to the season revealed based on goal contributions

Erling Haaland is unquestionably the greatest goalscorer of his generation but he’s enjoyed a remarkably prolific start to the season, even by his own lofty standards. The 25-year-old’s brace against Italy for Norway in the World Cup qualifiers took his tally for the campaign to 32 goals. Haaland has netted 11 goals for Norway since the start of the season and scored in every single qualifying game as Norway qualified for their first World Cup since 1998.

The goalscoring phenomenon has netted 19 goals in 11 games for Manchester City and broke some impressive records. Haaland became the fastest player to reach 50 Champions League goals in history, reaching the milestone in just 49 games and he’s on track to break his own record for most goals in a Premier League season (36). The former Borussia Dortmund striker has also registered three assists, but where does his total goal contribution of 35 at this stage of the season rank amongst some legendary players? Let’s find out!

Most goal contributions at this stage of the season

Transfermarkt has analysed the historical data between August 1st and November 18th to compile the results. And perhaps unsurprisingly, Lionel Messi occupies top spot after registering an incredible 40 goal contributions by November 18th in the 2011/12 season. Messi scored 25 goals and provided 15 assists for Barcelona and Argentina across 24 games.

As the graphic above illustrates, Cristiano Ronaldo ranks second after his sublime start to the 2013/14 that yielded 36 goal contributions in 21 games for Real Madrid and Portugal. Haaland’s start to this campaign ranks third. Messi also managed 35 goal contributions by this stage in 2012 but he played four more games than Haaland (2000). Ronaldo, Messi, Robert Lewandowski and Harry Kane all feature more than once in the top 15 list.