'Freak' Haaland scores outrageous goal as City demolishes Prague

MANCHESTER, England — Erling Haaland scored an outrageous backheel volley in the Champions League on Wednesday to issue a timely reminder of his own credentials as a potential Ballon d'Or winner.

A day after Vinicius Junior hit a hat-trick for Real Madrid, Haaland scored an early contender for goal of the season with his acrobatic effort in Manchester City's 5-0 win against Sparta Prague.

Vinicius is the favorite to win soccer's most prestigious individual prize when it is presented at a gala ceremony in Paris on Monday. But Haaland, who came runner-up to Lionel Messi for last year's award, once again showcased his scoring prowess with two goals, as City set a new Champions League record of 26 games unbeaten.

Haaland's volley in the 58th minute at the Etihad Stadium was a moment of individual brilliance. From around six meters, and with his back to goal, the Norway striker leapt into the air and flicked the back of his foot to meet Savinho's cross from the right.

Connecting powerfully with his heel, the ball shot down into the turf and bounced high into the top corner beyond Prague goalkeeper Peter Vindahl Jensen.

"If I tried to do that, I'd pull my groin. I don't know how he did it, I just think it's just his long legs. He's a freak isn't he?" Haaland's City teammate Phil Foden said. "It shows he has the talent (and can do things) that no one else can do."

City manager Pep Guardiola said the goal was not normal "for a human", and likened the forward to Sweden great Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"It's unbelievable the talent that this guy has," he said.

Haaland scored his second in the 68th, taking his season's total to 13 goals in 12 games in all competitions. His record in the Champions League is now 44 goals in 42 games.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the all-time leading scorer in European club soccer's elite competition with 141 goals. Messi is second on 129. Haaland is 17th and rising quickly.

But, he is expected to miss out on this year's Ballon d'Or with Vinicius seen as the man to beat, ahead of Haaland's City teammate Rodri.

Haaland, however, is likely to contend for years to come if he continues his goal scoring exploits, with Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe leading a new generation, after Messi and Ronaldo dominated the award for more than a decade.

Neither of those soccer greats, who won 13 titles between them, were nominated this year, appearing to usher in a new era.