Goal-scoring is a fine art that few people have perfected. While it may appear simple on the surface, any goal scorer will tell you how much effort and work it takes to be a constant threat in front of goal, a consistent source of goals, and a goalkeeper’s worst nightmare.
But how does the talismanic Norwegian, largely regarded as one of the best attackers in Premier League history, compare to Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe in terms of time taken to reach 300 goals since the turn of the millennium?
Eight Youngest Players to Reach 300 Goals in 21st Century
Mbappe, Ronaldo and Messi all feature
Fear not, as the IFFHS (International Federations of Football History and Statistics) has created a thorough graphic highlighting the eight youngest players to do so. We all know how much of a goalscoring sensation Haaland, 24, has been since leaving Germany for England in the summer of 2022. He has shattered numerous records, but who will join him as one of the eight youngest players to reach 300 goals?
Lukaku, who has played for Manchester United, Chelsea, and Inter Milan, reached the milestone at 27 years and 277 days old; at the same age, Maldives international Ali Ashfaq reached 300 goals while playing for New Radiant.
Ronaldo, who now plays for Al-Nassr, scored in Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Granada in 2012 at the ages of 27 and 79. His namesake, Ronaldo Nazario, reached the milestone in 2003. R9’s compatriot Neymar, noted for his trickery and flair, was also a consistent goalscorer, as evidenced by the fact that he is the fourth-fastest player to reach 300 goals.
Lionel Messi has been a sharpshooter in front of goal from the start of his career at Barcelona to the end of his career at Inter Miami, and his World Cup winning record (300 goals at the age of 25 years and 125 days) makes him the third-youngest player in the 21st century to reach the milestone.
As previously stated, Haaland was 24 years and 240 days old when he accomplished this feat. Kylian Mbappe, who left Paris Saint-Germain for Real Madrid in the summer of 2024, scored his 300th goal while playing for France. At 24 years and 333 days old, he scored in his country’s 14-0 victory over Gibraltar.
Eight Youngest Players to Reach 300 Goals in the 21st Century.
Rank
Player
Age
Game
Date
1.
Kylian Mbappe
24 years, 333 days
France 14-0 Gibraltar
2.
Erling Haaland
24 years, 240 days
Manchester City beat Juventus 5-2.
3.
Lionel Messi
25 years and 125 days.
Barcelona 5-0 Rayo Vallecano
4.
Neymar
25 years, 235 days
Paris Saint-Germain defeats Bayern Munich 3-0.
5.
Ronaldo
27 years, 79 days
Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona
6.
Cristiano Ronaldo
27 years and ninety days
Real Madrid 2-1 Granada
7.
Ali Ashfaq
27 years, 277 days.
New Radiant 5-0 Eagles.
8.
Romelu Lukaku
27 years, 277 days.
Inter Milan 2-1 Lazio
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