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Manchester City forward Erling Haaland has claimed his third Premier League Golden Boot in four seasons, joining legends Harry Kane and Alan Shearer in the league’s record books. Despite sitting out Pep Guardiola’s farewell match as City ended their campaign with a 2-1 home loss to Aston Villa, the Norwegian striker finished the season with 27 goals in 35 appearances.

Haaland, who was not part of the squad for the final fixture against Villa as City celebrated Guardiola’s trophy-filled decade in charge, still managed to secure the Golden Boot. His 27-goal haul placed him ahead of Brentford’s Igor Thiago, who netted 22 goals and earned a call-up to Brazil’s World Cup squad. This achievement means Haaland now stands just behind Mohamed Salah and Thierry Henry — the only players to have won the award four times. Over the course of this season, Haaland played 2,959 minutes in the Premier League and scored 38 goals across 52 appearances in all competitions.

The 23-year-old’s outstanding form this year builds on his previous record-breaking campaigns. He first captured the Golden Boot in the 2022–23 season by scoring a historic 36 goals — the highest ever in a single Premier League season — before repeating the feat in 2023–24 with 27 goals. Overall, Haaland has found the net 162 times in 198 matches for City, contributing to two Premier League titles during his stint at the Etihad Stadium.

Haaland’s influence on the team was particularly evident during a difficult mid-season spell that ultimately cost City the league crown. Between December and February, he scored only once — a penalty against Brighton — over a seven-match stretch in which City managed just two wins. He rediscovered his scoring touch late in the campaign, netting decisive goals against Liverpool and Arsenal to keep City in contention. However, dropped points against Everton and Bournemouth allowed Arsenal to clinch their first league title in 22 years, leaving City narrowly short in their pursuit of another championship.

As the post-Guardiola era approaches, Haaland’s focus now turns to international duty. The prolific striker will lead Norway in the upcoming World Cup before returning to Manchester to begin a new chapter under incoming manager Enzo Maresca, the former Chelsea coach who is expected to succeed Guardiola. Haaland remains under contract with City until 2034 and is poised to play a central role in shaping the club’s future.