Former Manchester City centre-back Joleon Lescott said that Erling Haaland needs to match the consistency levels of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi before he can be considered as one of the greats.
Haaland has made a sensational start at City, scoring 20 goals in 14 matches in all competitions for the Premier League champions since joining them from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, more (U.S.)
Lescott, who won Premier League titles with City in 2011-12 and 2013-14, was in Cape Town as part of the defending champions’ Trophy Tour and said the Norway international is at the same calibre of Messi and Ronaldo.
“The toughest striker I came up against was Louis Saha and I played against Messi and Ronaldo. He’s [Haaland] in that category,” Lescott told ESPN in an exclusive interview.
“He’s going to be a successful player throughout his career, but to say he’s going to be the greatest ever, I think it’s a little bit early and I don’t think he would [want] that yet. I think if he continues to do what he’s doing, he will definitely be in that conversation.”
