Erling Haaland has called it “his job” to score goals after he won the Gerd Muller Trophy at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris on Monday.
The Manchester City striker scored 56 goals throughout the 2022/23 season, for both the Cityzens during their treble-winning 2022/23 campaign and the Norwegian national team.
When asked why he was so prolific in front of goal, Haaland had a simple answer.
“It’s my job, that’s why I’m here,” he said on stage after collecting his award. “It’s what I’m good at.
“If I had to give my advice I’d say stay hungry, be in the moment, stay sharp. This feeling is an amazing feeling and I had it quite a few times last season, and I want to chase this feeling.
“Haaland becomes only the third player to receive the award, following Robert Lewandowski’s success in 2021 and 2022.
He enjoyed a record-breaking debut Premier League campaign where he scored 36 times in 35 games, and produced a further eight assists.
The 23-year-old scored four hat-tricks on his way to breaking the record for most Premier League goals in a single campaign.
Not only was he so deadly in the league, but he netted three times in a successful FA Cup campaign and 12 times as Man City won the UEFA Champions League for the first time, which included five goals against RB Leipzig in the round of 16.
“It’s a huge honour to receive the Gerd Muller Trophy,” a proud Haaland explained. “I couldn’t have scored the number of goals I did last season without all of my teammates and this award is another reminder of the incredible year we all enjoyed together.
“We work hard every day to win every game and every competition we play in, but to not only lift the first Champions League in this Club’s history but also the Premier League and FA Cup is something none of us could have imagined.
“I’m proud of what we achieved as a team last season, but our focus now is on trying to do it all again this year.”
Ballon d’Or ceremony host Didier Drogba challenged Haaland to use either his iconic “arms out” celebration, or Gary Lineker’s famous “fists up” when he scores his next goal.
Haaland, who accepted the award from former Barcelona striker Lineker, says he’ll leave it as a surprise.
“We’ll see next goal,” Haaland said when pushed for an answer. “I celebrate in the moment, so I’ll think of both of you when I score my next goal and will decide!”
